There'll be emotional scenes at the country's airports today as Irish people from all over the world make their way home for Christmas.
Dublin Airport expects almost a million people to pass through its gates this festive season.
Figures show the airport is one of the fastest-growing in Europe this year, after expanding its passenger traffic by more than twice the EU average.
This mum was waiting for the flight from Heathrow to arrive - she told our reporter what it means to have her son Michael home:
