Quality time with friends, reunions with family members, and spice bags are what many Irish emigrants visiting home are looking forward to this Christmas. 

Around 1.5 million people are expected to travel through Dublin Airport from December 18th to January 6th. 

Graeme McQueen from daa said 100,000 people alone travelled through the airport on Friday, with half of them arriving into Ireland. 

For many Irish emigrants living abroad, this year will be the first Christmas they’re able to return home due to costs and the COVID-19 pandemic, giving them the chance to reunite with friends and family. 

Derry man Caoimhin McCarthy, visiting home from Qatar said he’s most looking forward to getting a spice bag. 

“I should get into Derry around 1pm,” he said from Dublin Airport on Friday. “Then I'm playing football with the lads at 2pm, then we’re out tonight. 

“I’ll see the family tomorrow, that’s just the way it fell... it's always good to be home. 

“It’s only two weeks of the year that people are genuinely happy – happy to see me anyway.” 

Caoimhin arrived from Qatar with Dublin native Anna, who reunited with her mam at the airport. 

“It's super exciting especially as the last few Christmases have been very different with COVID and not being able to travel,” she said. 

“We’ve been stuck in Qatar for a couple of years for the holidays, so it means a lot to be able to come home.” 

Lots of tears as Mrs Moran from Meath is reunited with her daughter, son in law and grandkids for the first time in 5 and a half years. They’ve just arrived back to #DublinAirport from New Zealand for Christmas. 🎄 pic.twitter.com/bkvqC94Hic

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 24, 2023

At the arrivals gate, many friends and families waited eagerly for their loved ones to come home. 

Nora was waiting at the gates holding a sign ‘Welcome back from prison’ to welcome back her son Karl and his girlfriend Lyndsey. 

“His brother is in California, and Stephen came up with this sign,” she said. “Just to embarrass them coming off the plane and to involve the other lad in California as well.” 

While her elder son Stephen was unable to visit home, Nora can’t wait to see her younger son and his girlfriend after they've spent over a year in Asia.

“It will just be fabulous to have them home,” she said. “Our plan for Christmas Day is to have no plan because they're after been travelling for over a year. 

“So, we don't have any plan bar, to spend time together and have the absolute craic, eat loads of stuff, drink lots of prosecco and open lots of presents.” 

Nora, Karl and Lyndsey will then head to California in January to see Stephen.

Adriano is welcomed home from Australia by his son Luca and wife Catherine from Co Antrim at Dublin Airport, 21/12/2023. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

9-year-old Sophie was in the airport excited to meet her uncle and auntie who live in Canada – but she was particularly excited to meet their dog. 

“His name’s Benny and he’s a chihuahua,” she said. 

Sophie made a large sign reading ‘Welcome home Martin and Ciara, and welcome Benny’. 

“Benny’s a dog and he’s never been to Ireland,” she said. 

It will certainly be an exciting Christmas for Sophie, Benny and anyone reuniting with loved ones.