Hundreds of passengers were delayed at Dublin airport yesterday when heavy fog caused the cancellation of 25 flights and delayed arrivals from the UK.
The majority of the cancelled flights were Aer Arann and Ryanair services. Most other flights at the airport were experiencing delays of between one and two hours.
Among those left waiting on the tarmac were dozens of guests travelling to France for today's wedding of Westlife's Nicky Byrne and the Taoiseach's daughter, Georgina Ahern.
It is understood members of both the bride and groom's party were among passengers expecting to travel on Ryanair's 10.30 a.m. flight to Paris-Beauvais.
The flight carrying the wedding guests was listed as cancelled but in fact departed at 12.30 p.m. when the fog lifted. The airline denied it had given preferential treatment to the Paris flight.
Many of the original passengers were still waiting for a flight at 7 p.m., however, and some were not even aware that a flight had left at 12.30 p.m.
One couple who were waiting on standby at 7.15 p.m. had been at the airport since 9.30 a.m. "We're raging because the 10.30 was cancelled, uncancelled again, and no announcement was made to us," said Mrs Josephine Whyte, who was travelling to Paris with her husband to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
"We were queuing to re-book flights when two Ryanair officials who were walking by told us our flight was leaving in five minutes," said Mrs Whyte. They ran up to the boarding gate but were turned back when the pilot refused to wait for them.
"Then we were talking to Nicky Byrne's aunt, who had family on that flight, and they said it was only half-full. So the flight left, only half-full, and we were told the only flight they could book us on was at 6.30 a.m. tomorrow," she said.
A Ryanair spokesman denied the flight had not been announced in the main departure hall. "I would find that very hard to believe. We replaced all 14 flights, and passengers were put on the next available flights. You can't legislate for fog," he added.
Many passengers had to get to France yesterday and spent the day waiting for a flight. Ms Maelle Champenois and fiancé Mr Brendan Bowden had to be in France for a friend's wedding today.
"It's not fair, I'm going to a wedding as well. We spent the day hanging around here. It's been a long day," said Ms Champenois.
"We're getting married next week. If it was our wedding tomorrow, we'd be in a right state," said Mr Bowden.
Mrs Eithne Monaghan, from Dublin, went home for a few hours after she was told the 10.30 a.m. flight was cancelled.
"I have a little French boy with me whose father is leaving Paris tomorrow morning, so I have to get him back to Paris tonight," she said.