More than 200 Irish soccer fans missed last night's World Cup qualifier in the Faroe Islands after thick fog forced the main airport in the region to close.
The Dublin Airport Authority said last night that three flights had been cancelled and a fourth diverted to Norway.
Two of the flights affected had been organised by tour operators Celtic Horizons, Sadlier Travel and Aerworld. John Downey of Celtic Horizons last night said its day-trip flight to the Faroe Islands, operated by Atlantic Airways, had been diverted to Norway due to dense fog. The flight returned to Dublin last night.
Mr Downey said the second flight, on which 92 passengers were scheduled to travel, had been cancelled at around 2pm as the airline had concluded it would not get to the Faroe Islands in time for the match.
Passengers travelling with Celtic Horizon had paid between €389 and €569, depending on the package. Mr Downey urged passengers with travel insurance, or who had paid with their credit card, to seek reimbursement through their insurance company. He said passengers without insurance should write to the company.
The managing director of 747 Travel in Dublin said last night that 50 passengers on its day trip to the Faroe Islands had also missed the game.
Michael Caslin said its flight, operated by VLM Airways and which was scheduled to leave at around 7am, had been cancelled around noon.
Mr Caslin said insurance companies "did not pay for weather situations". He said his company had paid the airline concerned and it would now be a matter of whatever goodwill the airline wished to show.
Passengers with 747 Travel had paid around €650 for the day trip to the Faroe Islands.
Later, at Dublin airport, returning fans expressed disappointment, having spent 15 hours travelling without seeing a ball kicked.
Wayne O'Sullivan from Ballybrack in Dublin was coming to terms with the fact he had spent €580 for a flight that never landed in the Faroe Islands.
"This is the first game I have missed in eight years and that includes friendless, testimonials, all home and away fixtures. I am very upset about that, as you can imagine," he said.