the air of tension is unmistakable. It's 9am on the eve of Christmas eve in Dublin airport and everyone in the small crowd - toddlers, siblings, parents, grandparents - has their eyes glued to the arrivals hall, waiting for their loved one to come through the door.

When the traveller, pale and weary, comes through the arrivals hall, tears inevitably erupt on both sides.

Mary Farrell and her daughter Tracey from Wicklow have extra reason to be excited.

Mary's two sons are arriving home from Australia and New York within an hour of each other. There's going to be some celebration.

"We're really excited, " she says. "It's been two years since we last saw Patrick (25), who's been living in Australia. Brian (23) is studying in New York and we miss them both. This will be the first time we've all been together at Christmas in ages. I can't wait."

Brian is the first son through the door and he is engulfed in hugs from his mother and sister.

He is a runner and studying on a scholarship in Stoney Brook University. "It's brilliant to be home, " he says. "I can't wait to spend time with my family." All three don Santa hats and go back to wait for Patrick to come home for Christmas.

Meanwhile, Ciara Maguire and Gemma Mahon from Mulllingar leap on their friend Sinead Quinn. Sinead lives and works in Bermuda and hasn't been home for over a year.

"We've missed her so much, " cries Gemma. "It's great to have her home. We'll be having some parties this Christmas, that's for sure." In reply, Sinead brandishes a bottle of Bermuda rum triumphantly.

Upstairs in departures, there are scenes of a very different nature going on. It seems that for every person coming home for the festive season, two people are leaving. Departures is jam-packed, with long queues and a lot of nipped ankles from careless suitcase carriers.

Here and there, couples cling to each other as they prepare to say goodbye for the Christmas season. "I'll miss you so much, " one woman tells her partner, as she cries into his shoulder.

"I'll be home soon, " he promises.

Tristan Davis-Keaveny and Torges Mannes are preparing to head home to Norway. Tristan has been living in Cork for the last three years, studying at CIT.

"I love it here, but I can't wait to go home and see my family, " he says. "I'm also planning to go skiing. I really miss that here."

Across the hall, Joan and Christy Maguire from Dublin are part of a group of seven about to board a flight to Puerto Rico. "We've been there before at Christmas and it's great, " says Joan. "It's so relaxing to get away from all the hustle and bustle. We had our Christmas dinner last week and now we're ready for the sun."

The group cheers.

Back in arrivals, the crowd has grown. "Daddy, daddy, " scream three little girls, running up to their father who has just arrived. "We made you banners."

Se�?n Stephens, from Australia has just got over the embarrassment of meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time. Maeve Donoghue from Kilkenny has been living in Sydney for the past year-and-a-half and has brought her new boyfriend home to meet the family.

"We're shattered, " she says.

"We missed our connecting flight in London and had to wait an hour-and-a-half, but thank god the fog had cleared or it would been worse."

Se�?n shakes hands with Maeve's father and is embraced by her mother. "I was pretty nervous, " he admits. "Now that I've met them, we can all get on with enjoying Christmas." And with that, the entire group heads off to the car park.