Christmas Eve is one of the busiest days at Dublin Airport with over 750,000 people expected over the festive season.
Dozens of friends and family members of emigrants have been waiting in Terminals 1 and 2 with banners and balloons waiting for their loved ones to return.
One of those travelling was Ken Wade from Douglas in Cork, who flew home from New Zealand, his first Irish Christmas in seven years.
He was welcomed home by dad Michael, whose voice was breaking with emotion as he said: "It's great…I can’t talk…I'm speechless…I'm absolutely thrilled to see him - I've waited a long time for this."