Emotional scenes at Dublin Airport as more than 350 stranded Irish arrive home from the UK after canceled flights

There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport on Tuesday night as more than 350 stranded Irishmen arrived home from the UK.

After flights were suspended Sunday night, many stayed in the hope of a chance to get home, and for those who managed to get seats, it was a Christmas miracle.

The Department of Foreign Affairs organized two special consular flights, one operated by Aer Lingus and the other operated by Ryanair, to bring Irish residents home from Britain. A smaller number also stayed on ferry routes.

There were many smiling faces flooding the hallways, and some were glad to be home in time for Santa’s visit.

Seven-year-old Alex Shorten from Limerick flew home to his mother Saphron and grandmother Caroline after a few days in Essex visiting his uncle.

Saphron told the Irish Mirror: “We went to visit family before Christmas, with the best of intentions and all that.

“We had an absolute shock when everything was canceled, it was an absolute nightmare.

“I guess financially it’s a disaster this close to Christmas.

“And we have a seven-year-old boy, so we didn’t know if Santa could find us.”

Other arrivals included Zama Menyo, who was returning from London with his two daughters.

She said: “I traveled on an urgent family matter. I was aware of what was happening, but it was not a complicated process to get home.

“I’m worried about the new strain but we did everything we could to protect ourselves, we didn’t go out or anything.

“We don’t want to bring anything back.”

But it wasn’t all smiles, as Mick Morrissey of Kilmeaden in Co Waterford said he had to travel to the UK for a funeral.

He said: “I was there for a sad occasion, I went to my sister’s funeral, she died on Sunday night.

“They buried her on Monday. It’s great to be home. “

And for Sherron St Clair, who lives in Greystones, her visit was tragic, too.

The dance teacher told the Irish Daily Mirror: “I buried my son on December 21, he was 28 years old. We’re coming back, it’s so good
be at home. My son Ysra lived in London. “Aer Lingus flight EI4179 also arrived from Heathrow at 10pm with many relieved passengers.

The Department said last night that a very limited service will continue during the period of current travel restrictions to help
Ireland-bound passengers who were transiting through British airports when the restrictions were imposed, or Irish residents who can show that they were only temporarily in Britain and need to return to Ireland.

A spokesperson said: “This service is not available to citizens who normally reside, study or work in Great Britain. It will be available for essential travel only and must be arranged through the Department of Foreign Affairs. “

Ryanair flight FR520 arrived from Stansted more than an hour late, but the passengers did not care, they were relieved to be home.

Meanwhile, all Aer Lingus flights from the UK to the Republic of Ireland are banned until December 31. The airline is operating flights from the Republic to the UK to facilitate the repatriation of customers there and those with connecting flights there.

Aer Lingus continues to liaise with the Department of Transportation, other government departments and the relevant authorities as necessary.

Stormont Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill has called for a ban on non-essential travel around the island of Ireland. Sinn Fein vice president said the move should be accompanied by a travel ban between the island and Britain and regretted that ministers did not support her party’s proposal to ban travel from Britain at Monday’s executive meeting for the night. Ms. O’Neill said her call for an all-island approach “is not a political issue” but “to save lives.”

Leo Varadkar has said that there will be a Garda presence at the border to crack down on people who violate Covid restrictions.

People arriving from the UK have been encouraged to isolate themselves for two weeks, even if they arrived on repatriation flights after a short stay.