In heels. Or with a buggy. Or pulling your suitcase whilst carrying a child.

From the Santry roundabout we formed a strange army of pilgrims.

Rob and Sharon from Doncaster were cheerful as they sat on the grass near the short-term car park.

"They're treating it more serious this time, " said Patrick Doyle, a postal worker at the airport. Rob and Sharon had had "a fantastic time" in west Cork. Their flight was not due to leave until 12.10pm, three hours away.

Summer, Aaron and Moxie were not so lucky. Moxie was taking a picture. "Our last day in Ireland, hopefully, " he said. They were flying to Chicago at 10.45am to catch a connection to San Diego, but if there was any delay at all the connection would be gone. "I was just thinking that we travel so much that something like this was bound to happen, " said Moxie.

People's calmness in the face of Friday's bomb scare was extraordinary. The airport being what it is these days, all would have arrived expecting hassle, queues, delays, bad tempers. They got all this and more but they were so quiet and goodhumoured that it seemed amazing that today was the first anniversary of the London bombings. There was no fear apparent, even among those who had been at the airport when the bomb scare started.

Once the all clear was given, the crowd, a monster with Samsonite feet, surged up to the doors of departures. The tannoy had not been turned off and still said, 'This is a set-down area only. Vehicle clamping and towaway is in operation' every couple of minutes to a crowd whose only wheels were the castors on their suitcases.

Inside, Mr and Mrs Lightowler sat in matching wheelchairs while their son was battling to get Flybe airline to answer its phone. The Flybe sign had been taken down, said Mrs Lightowler. She and her husband, who have been married for 57 years, had flown only once before, 26 years ago for her son's wedding in Ireland.

This time they flew over for their grandson's graduation. Their flight, to Exeter, was the only flight of the morning to be diverted . . . to Belfast.

There was now no plane to take the eight passengers for Exeter home . . .

they would have to fly to either Birmingham or Bristol, with a lot of taxis involved. "They're not able for that, " said daughter-in-law, Anne-Marie, who was minding three pieces of luggage belonging to another, unknown, passenger who was off fighting his own battles. "I've told security but they don't seem to mind, " she said.

Meanwhile the automatic warnings about leaving luggage unattended resounded from the ceiling.

Up in Bewley's cafe there was a good view of the announcement boards, which were showing more than 20 delayed flights, and of the queue for the Ryanair desk, which was showing visible signs of strain.

The Madden family had been booked on the Ryanair flight to Faro, Portugal, which had been due to leave at 9.15am. It was now 11am.

"There's only one Ryanair flight to Faro per day, " said Jacqueline Madden. "And there are only 11 seats left on that flight tomorrow morning. So I've booked us the Aer Lingus flight tomorrow. We'll have to come back down from Newry at four in the morning. So far this has cost us 1,200."

The Maddens had been in the check-in queue when the airport was evacuated. Their wrath was reserved for Ryanair which, they said, cancelled their flight. "Give them a good old stinker, " instructed Paul Madden. "Tell Michael O'Leary there's more to life than making money."

The Maddens usually go to Spain, usually with Aer Lingus. "Ryanair was a bit cheaper, " said Jacqueline, "so I changed. I bitterly regret it."

The Ryanair 9.30am flight to Aberdeen had also been cancelled and one woman was given a refund form to reclaim the 16 her cancelled trip had cost her. She spent 220 getting a flight to Edinburgh instead.

Noel works on a day support ship for oil rigs. He had also been booked on that Aberdeen flight. "If I don't get there the guy I'm replacing has to stay on an extra week. He'll be very upset, " said Noel.