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Pictured with Colm McLoughlin (right), Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, are his two brothers Ray (left) and Feidlim, who all received the Garbally Alumni Award this month |
IRELAND. Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin and his brothers Ray and Feidlim were honoured by their old school, Garbally College, with Alumni Awards this month.
At a special ceremony held in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel, Galway, Garbally College presented 55 former pupils with the awards. The Alumni Awards ceremony, which was the first of its kind to be organised by the college, celebrated the huge contribution to Irish society made by Garbally students who had graduated from the years 1945-2005.
Colm McLoughlin, as well as Ray and Feidlim, all attended Garbally in the 1950s through to the 1960s, with Colm completing his studies in 1961. All three brothers were amongst fellow alumni that included some of the most prominent and highly respected Irish professionals from the fields of business, politics, science, education, religion and the arts.
Colm McLoughlin has led the Dubai Duty Free airport retail operation since its inception in December 1983. Part of the original 10-man team from Aer Rianta and former head of Shannon Duty Free, Colm has been the driving force behind the hugely successful operation whose turnover reached US$1.46 billion in 2011 and employs over 4,000 staff.
Both of Colm’s older brothers, and fellow alumni, Ray and Feidlim, have enjoyed highly successful business careers combined with sporting success on the rugby field. A graduate of UCD, Ray McLoughlin joined the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in 1970. Three years later he took control of a small public company, James Crean, and developed it to a €400 million operation before going on to purchase the core of the company following an offer to shareholders in 2001. Ray also had a hugely successful rugby career and played for over 14 years for Connacht, Irish Universities, British Universities, Ireland, the Lions and a World XV. He captained the Irish rugby team in 1965/66 and both Ray and Feidlim have over 40 caps between them.
Feidlim, who is based in the UK, was a substitute and player on the Irish Rugby team for many years in the 1960/70s. He captained Northumberland for several seasons and was a long service chairman of the Irish Exiles as well as being a committee member of the IRFU for several years.
Commenting on the Alumni Awards ceremony, Colm McLoughlin noted: “It is an honour to have been recognised by Garbally and to receive an Alumni Award. I am particularly proud of the fact that all three brothers have been recognised by our Alma Mater and I thank the organisers for initiating this award ceremony. I join both Ray and Feidlim and my sisters Muira and Enda, who also attended the evening, in saying how much we enjoyed the awards ceremony and meeting fellow alumni and hearing about their successes since leave Garbally College.”
Fellow honorees included Eamon Gilmore, Ireland’s Tánaiste (Deputy Leader) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Labour Party, John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert, Patrick Molloy, Chairman of CRH plc and former Group Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland, Tommy Tiernan, comedian, actor and writer, Ciaran Fitzgerald, former Irish rugby international, Michael Burke, Managing Director, Chanelle Group and Patrick Gullane, MD FRCSC FACS, Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto.
Located in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Garbally College, officially known as St. Joseph’s College, was founded as a Roman Catholic seminary in 1892 to help educate priests for the Diocese of Clonfert, which owns it. The College was originally established at Catron but following two further moves, eventually settled in its present site at Garbally, once seat of the Earls of Clancarty.
