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Images of the Day: Colm McLoughlin remembered on the fairways of Dubai

by Martin Moodie; Photos by Dermot ‘Divot’ and Catherine Bonelli in Dubai |

Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Duty Free Global from Ireland, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.

A backdrop of the spectacular Dubai skyline and grass as green as that of his native homeland made an appropriate framework for this image of the much-missed Colm McLoughlin 

DUBAI, UAE. Today’s images, courtesy of The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt and Sky Connect – Autour d’un Sourire Founder & Commercial Director Catherine Bonelli, offer a celebratory yet poignant reminder of one of travel retail’s greatest statesmen, former Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, who sadly passed away on 30 October 2024 at age 81.

Today, following the just-completed MEADFA Conference in Dubai, members of Colm’s extended family, friends and numerous travel retail executives who knew him well held a memorial golf tournament at Emirates Golf Course to honour and celebrate a life well lived.

Colm was an avid golfer, at one stage playing off a single-figure handicap.

Father and son: Lovely photos of Niall McLoughlin alongside a suitably super-sized image of his dad Colm, a giant among men

The Moodie Davitt President (and two times Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup winner) Dermot ‘Divot’ looking suave in Galway sea-green. Let’s hope he never takes up cycling though.

After the golf, players gathered for dinner, drinks and a prize-giving graced by Colm’s wife Breeda and son Niall.

A fearsome (at least in appearance) Irish foursome on the first tee. From left are Dermot ‘Divot’; Global Travel Retail Sales Owner Davitt Spillane; Duty Free Global Founder Barry Geoghegan and Butlers Chocolate Managing Director Karl Marnane.
After their recent crushing loss to the All Blacks rugby team and with a showdown against the Wallabies on Saturday, the Irish have clearly decided to strengthen their bench
(From left) John Sutcliffe, Niall McLoughlin, renowned Indian tee-planter & King Power Group (HK) CEO Sunil Tuli and Damien Fox
Some of travel retail’s finest golfers graced today’s tournament. Then there was this lot. (Back row from right), Kevin Walsh, John Sutcliffe, Rodger Craig and James Kfouri; (Front row from right) Martyn Westbury, Catherine Bonelli, Barry Geoghegan, Suni Tuli, Karl Marnane, Richard Thorpe and Damien Fox.

The stableford tournament was won by long-time inflight retail executive and golfer supreme Steve Flanagan with 36 points. Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds Director of Sales, Oceania, SE Asia, CaSA & Global Travel Retail James Kfouri was runner-up and Breeda’s nephew Damien Fox third.

John Sutcliffe, another great Middle East travel retail pioneer and a member of the original ARI team that started Dubai in 1983, earned nearest to the pin accolade, while Metaforce Trading Managing Director Michael McGinley won longest drive. ✈

With Breeda McLoughlin looking on, Niall McLoughlin thanks players and guests and pays emotional tribute to his father and best friend Colm. “We think of him every day,” he said.
Guests join in a toast to the great man
The victor in many tournaments down the years (including the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup), Steve Flanagan, accepts a winner’s prize he may cherish more than any other from Breeda McLoughlin
Steve Flanagan makes a well-received speech about the tournament and the man who inspired it
A proud but emotional moment for Breeda McLoughlin as she accepts a floral tribute
John Sutcliffe, another outstanding contributor to the Middle East’s rise as a powerhouse of global travel retail and a member of the Irish ‘Trinity’ at Dubai Duty Free along with Colm and George Horan, accepts his closest to the pin prize from Breeda McLoughlin
John, one of Colm’s closest friends, regales guests with some hilarious memories of his time working with Colm at Dubai Duty Free
Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi, Colm’s successor as the retailer’s executive leader, worked alongside him for three and a half decades. “Colm gave time and attention to every person in the organisation,” he told guests, before later adding movingly, “With Breeda, Colm set the standard for how you treat and love your partner.”
In a lovely line, Irish Ambassador to the UAE Alison Milton said, “I may have the title but Colm was Ireland’s true ambassador to the Middle East”
Dubai Duty Free Senior Vice President for Marketing Sinéad El Sibai, who worked with Colm for 24 years, recalled his delight at celebrating his 80th birthday in 2023 with members of  the company management team and industry friends at the K Club in County Kildare, Ireland
It runs in the family: Michael McGinley won the longest drive prize. Not surprisingly, given he is the brother of former Ryder Cup Captain and golfing ace Paul McGinley, and a top-class golfer himself (he once scored three hole-in-ones within in six days)
Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds Director of Sales, Oceania, SE Asia, CaSA & Global Travel Retail James Kfouri won  longest job title and was also tournament runner-up (possibly aligning himself with his beloved Wallabies’ result after they play Ireland this weekend)
Breeda McLoughlin (nee Fox) proudly presents her nephew Damien Fox with his prize for third
(From right) Damien Fox; Colm McLoughlin’s right hand man for so long at Dubai Duty Free, George Horan; David Spillane,; Carmel Horan and Dermot ‘Divot’ 

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