Then again, with the busiest day of arrivals for the Christmas period, there was always going to be tears.

More than 200,000 passengers are expected to travel through the airport by this evening, and more than 1.6 million will come through over the entire Christmas period.

Among the many families watching and waiting for loved ones were the Pykes from Dublin.

Barbara Pyke was flying home from Boston with her daughters – Tess (9) and Dara (7) – for the festive season.

Dublin Airport reunions: Families up at the crack of dawn to surprise returning loved ones – ‘There’s nothing like Christmas in Ireland’ | Independent.ie