Ireland West Airport, with an assist from O'Hara's of Foxford, and Dublin Airport have engaged in a pre-Christmas back-and-forth on X, formerly Twitter.

It all began when an Irish dad was photographed holding a loaf of O'Hara's of Foxford white bread as he waited to welcome his loved ones home ahead of Christmas at Ireland West Airport in Knock, Co Mayo. 

"Nothing says welcome home to the West of Ireland more than being greeted in the arrivals hall by your father with a fresh white sliced loaf from @OHarasofFoxford," Ireland West Airport said in the post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Nothing says welcome home to the West of Ireland more than being greeted in the arrivals hall by your father with a fresh white sliced loaf from @OHarasofFoxford 😁😁🍞#HomeSweetHome #homeforchristmas #welcomehome pic.twitter.com/noFh9og6Vj

— Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) December 21, 2023

The heartwarming - and quintessentially Irish - scene drew plenty of happy responses on X.

O'Hara's of Foxford seized the opportunity and also replied, offering to send a hamper to the man, if they could track him down.

The man's daughter, Aisling Kearney, replied and said that her father had been waiting for her, her sister Nessa, and his granddaughter Mara who were returning home from London for Christmas.

O'Hara's of Foxford asked Aisling to email them to arrange the hamper.

Meanwhile, Dublin Airport responded to Ireland West Airport's photo, posting an image of another man waiting at arrivals in Dublin with a loaf of Brennan's Bread. 

"Looks like this thing could be catching on. (Albeit with a better caliber of loaf at Dublin Airport!)," the Dublin Airport X account said on Friday. 

Looks like this thing could be catching on. (Albeit with a better calibre of loaf at Dublin Airport!) 🍞 😉 https://t.co/DBSBMGqI7d pic.twitter.com/V3RLNvoQ0x

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 22, 2023

O'Hara's of Foxford, however, was quick to respond, labeling the situation as "BREADGATE," adding, "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery."

BREADGATE 🤣

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery 😘🍞@Irelandwest @DublinAirport https://t.co/KY22cFUoY8

— O'Haras of Foxford (@OHarasofFoxford) December 22, 2023

Ireland West Airport also responded to the bread scene in Dublin Airport, saying on X: "That man clearly has no taste buds - our friends in @OHarasofFoxford I’m sure will be happy to send him a few goodies to put him right - ‘care in the making, care in the baking.'"

That man clearly has no taste buds - our friends in @OHarasofFoxford I’m sure will be happy to send him a few goodies to put him right - ‘care in the making, care in the baking’ 😉🍞 #breadgate https://t.co/lp7IDlf3jl

— Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) December 22, 2023

The exchanges didn't end there. Dublin Airport - sharing a photoshopped image of Duboliln GAA icon Stephen Cluxton raising a loaf of Brennan's - joked that it doesn't "settle for second best."

We don’t settle for second best over here @Irelandwest. 🍞 https://t.co/kCpJNqxeWm pic.twitter.com/Y45lAz9Zdq

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 22, 2023

Undeterred, Ireland West Airport said "come down to the West lads we’ll bring ye for a day to the bog and show ye a real days work."

Ye forgot to mention that post was sponsored by AIG - come down to the West lads we’ll bring ye for a day to the bog and show ye a real days work 😁😁 https://t.co/adeWxVa76k

— Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) December 22, 2023

The battle took on new legs after "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker reportedly arrived at Dublin Airport on Friday.

Dublin Airport was quick to share another photoshopped image of Parker with a loaf of Brennan's, while O'Hara's of Foxford retorted with its own meme:

There, we fixed that for you. pic.twitter.com/WF9zZMl1qW

— O'Haras of Foxford (@OHarasofFoxford) December 22, 2023

Tis the season!