Electric atmosphere at Cork Airport as families arrive home for Christmas

JINGLE bells and wedding bells could be heard in Cork Airport yesterday morning as travellers from across the globe found their way back home for Christmas.

Crowds of Corkonians awaited loved ones at the airport’s arrivals lounge as they jetted in to celebrate Yuletide on Leeside.

Newly engaged Ailbhe Lowney from Douglas and fiancé Stephen Madine from Cobh, arrived from Dubai on Friday morning with hopes of throwing an engagement party to celebrate their big news.

“I popped the question in the Maldives about a month ago, so she will be showing off the ring to everyone now that we are home. I think it will definitely be hard to top that with any presents for Christmas,” Stephen joked.

It was an international family affair for Frank Hyde, who originally hails from Mayfield, but now calls San Francisco home.

“I have been over in the States for the last 40 years and this is the first Christmas I have been home in maybe 15 or 20 years. So, I am hoping there will be some spiced beef on the table for me this year. I’m also dying to have some good old tripe and drisheen too, so I will be heading for the English Market for that.” 

The Mayfield man was joined by his two daughters, Deirdre who travelled from Oregon and Eileen who had just landed from Boston.

Deirdre, who was joined by her husband said, “we came over to Cork many years ago when we were children for Christmas, but we returned just this October to get married, and now we are back to spend Christmas here.”

Another major milestone was being celebrated by Shane McCarthy from Old Head, Kinsale, his wife Annemarie and their six-month-old, Conor. The pair, who now live in San Francisco had arrived in Cork a few days previous and were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Annemarie’s family from Minnesota.

“Annemarie’s family are flying in especially for his baptism tomorrow. We are all then going to be spending our Christmas together in Kinsale,” Shane explained.

Andrew Guerin was another who patiently waited the arrival of his daughter, Katie, who had made a new life abroad.

“She has been in Amsterdam now for about 10 years. She set up her own business over there a few years ago and usually tries to get home to Cork about three times a year.” Harriot and Donal Long from Douglas were also waiting for their jet-setting daughter and her fiancé Lars to land from Amsterdam.

“She has been over there for about 12 years, and she comes home often enough. It’s only across the water thankfully, it’s not the same as being in the States or in Australia. Of course, we still miss her but we are lucky enough with Cork airport being so close. Sometimes we can get reasonable flights and we can get over to see her,” the couple said.

While the Cork Light Orchestra performed Christmas classics in the background, Siobhan Howarth was another parent singing the praises of Cork airport.

“My daughter, Sarah did her degree in Cork and decided to spread her wings and has been living in Utrecht now for two years. The flights from Cork are very convenient as well, we are blessed,” the Rosscarberry woman said.

Despite loving embraces being see all around the airport, perhaps the cutest welcome home of all was for Nadia Geaney of Dublin Pike, arriving from Dubai for Christmas, who was greeted by George, the family pet dog.