Family links are the ties that bind at airport

More than 900,000 passengers will have passed through gates of Dublin airport by end of festive season, writes John Downes at Dublin Airport

There was an unmistakeable "arrivals hall" look in the faces of many of those gathered in a busy Dublin airport yesterday, as relatives and returning emigrants anxiously sought each other out.

Each luggage trolley turning the corner of the specially erected "Seasons Greetings" sign was scrutinised closely. Equally, returning travellers eagerly searched the faces of those gathered next to the arrivals barrier, trying to see if it belonged to a loved one.

Yesterday was the busiest day of the entire Christmas period for Dublin airport, with some 74,000 passengers expected to pass through during the day.

Not all of these were arrivals. The attractions of winter sun and holiday homes, and the increasing number of foreign nationals living here who were making the journey home, also contributed to the figures.

Over the two-week period, which started last Wednesday, some 900,000 passengers - up 15 per cent on last year - will have passed through the airport gates, according to the Dublin Airport Authority.

Sinead Higgins, from Tullamore in Offaly, was spending her first Christmas at home in 10 years.

Living in New York, where she works for a law firm, she could hardly hide her excitement after passing through the arrival area with her husband, Ken. There, she was greeted by her twin brother, Mark Sheridan, and sister, Vivien Sheridan.

Her nine other siblings and the rest of her family were also waiting to welcome her at the family home in Tullamore.

"I'm just wondering what it's going to be like," she said. "Not being at home for Christmas is a lot to miss out on. I try not to think about it."

Mr Sheridan said having his twin sister home "makes the Christmas".

"Just catching up with each other and spending time with each other," he said of his plans.

Maureen Markham and her husband, Ollie, from Ennis, were also well aware of the importance of family at this time of year.

Their son, Trevor (26), had just stepped off a plane from Sydney, Australia. Along with their daughter Jennifer (7), they were anxiously waiting for their other son, Stephen (20), to arrive from Spain.

This was the first time in three years that the whole family had been together in one place at Christmas, Mrs Markham said. Stephen has been working in Madrid on a student placement for the past six months, while Trevor had not been home in two years.

"It's very hard to get young people together these days," Mrs Markham said.

"Last year we just 'did' Christmas. Everything was perfect, but there was one thing missing."

Sitting upstairs in McDonald's restaurant, Ewa Koscilak, Pitor Giznski and Agata Bambrych were equally excited about flying home to Poland through London yesterday afternoon.

All three have been working in a meat factory in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, for the past five months. When asked if she was looking forward to going home, Ms Koscilak replied simply: "Of course I'm very excited. I miss my family."