IRELAND. The Irish state honoured Dr Brendan O’Regan – the founding father of duty free – last night with the opening of an exhibition celebrating his life and achievements. Dr O’Regan, who is approaching his 90th birthday, opened the world’s first duty free shop at Shannon Airport in 1947.
Ireland’s Prime Minister Bertie Ahern officially opened the exhibition along with Dr O’Regan at the Clare Museum in Ennis, with hundreds of former colleagues and O’Regan’s family in attendance.
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(Above) Celebrating a great life: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (left) with Dr O’Regan (centre) and the Mayor of Clare Flan Garvey; (Above right) Dr O’Regan: “This is an incredible compliment. I hope the exhibition will interest both young and old” | |
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Left: Dr O’Regan with close friend Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin; and (right) with The Moodie Report Deputy Publisher Dermot Davitt | |
Ahern said: “Dr O’Regan is a famous, famous person and one that any of us in public life would be proud to be associated with. This is a fitting exhibition to mark a distinguished career. Dr O’Regan has made a unique and wonderful contribution to Irish life over five decades and this is a true reminder of his legacy.”
Ahern added: “It is impossible to pay tribute to his full range of achievements. Among the key contributions was the opening of the world’s first duty free shop at Shannon Airport. I was in Dubai Airport recently where I met a proud fellow countryman Colm McLoughin, who is heading the world’s third largest duty free business. All of that began here.
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The exhibition, which runs throughout spring 2007, celebrates the career and achievements of Dr O’Regan. Photos by Dermot Davitt |
“Dr O’Regan also created the Shannon School of Hotel Management, he was the driving force behind the Shannon Free Zone and made a huge contribution to developing tourism in this region and in Ireland as Chairman of Bord Failte (the Irish Tourism Board). He is also a great man of peace. In 1978 he created Cooperation North, an organisation dedicated to overcoming violence in Northern Ireland through economic, cultural and social cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Dr O’Regan is a rare individual, and we thank him for his contribution to our country.”
Dr O’Regan thanked the Prime Minister and said: “I see many faces here of people who have helped me over the years. I hope this exhibition will be of interest to both young and old. I wish the management of Shannon Airport and Shannon Development Company every success in meeting the challenges of the years ahead.”
The exhibition, titled ‘Empowering the People: The Career and Achievements of Dr Brendan O’Regan’, runs during spring 2007 at the Clare Museum in Ennis. It chronicles the life of Dr O’Regan, his role in establishing the world’s first duty free shop and in developing the Shannon region, plus his contribution to Ireland’s peace process.
Among the exhibits is the plaque he received from Tax Free World Association in 1997 honouring his unique role in the duty free industry.
Excerpts from Dr O’Regan’s archives will feature in a special print issue of The Moodie Report next month – appropriately called ‘The World Rovers’ – which details the influential role of the Irish in duty free over the past 60 years.
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Duty free’s founding father unveils grand tourism-related initiative for world peace – 13/10/04
