WATCH: Laois army dad surprises daughter as he comes home from overseas

The heartwarming moment a 5th year student in Athy was surprised by her father who had been on overseas duties with the Irish Defence Forces has been captured by Athy College. 

Student Lauren Lawlor Phelan was heading to class in the school unaware of what was about to happen. 

But as she turned the corner, there was her dad Gavin Phelan standing waiting for her in full military clothing. 

The moment has been been shared on the school's social media channels. It was captured by teachers of the school on their phone, with Lauren completely unaware what was about to unfold on her way back to class after lunch. 

By early on Thursday afternoon it had been viewed over almost 30,000 times on Facebook. 

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The event was captured less than 24 hours earlier at the school. 

It all came about when Lauren's mother asked some of the caretaker staff if could they organise something, and the clandestine operation sprang into action, with the help of some of the teachers including Olivia Daly and Ciara Doyle. 

The Phelan family are from Kilberry, with Gavin originally being from Portarlington. 

Gavin had been serving for three months overseas serving with UNIFL in Lebanon, and with the volatility of the situation in the Middle East, his family was probably even more relieved than usual to have him home. 

School principal Richard Daly said they were delighted to capture such a happy moment. And they have been thrilled with the reaction to the post. 

"Lauren didn't suspect a thing and you can tell by her reaction, she just turned the corner and dropped her jacket on the ground in shock," Mr Daly said. 

On Thursday, Lauren was said to be still beaming after the event. 

The emotional footage appropriately features Skylar Grey's song Coming Home.