Friends reunited: Shannon Duty Free Shop plans grand 70th anniversary celebration

Dr Brendan O’Regan
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IRELAND. Exactly 70 years on from the opening of the world’s first airport duty free shop at Shannon Airport on Ireland’s west coast, a poignant anniversary celebration has been announced.

Shannon Duty Free shop staff, past and present will come together to celebrate the platinum anniversary, with the first-ever staff reunion* on Wednesday 29 March at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick.

On 18 March 1947, Dáil Éireann (the Irish Assembly) passed the Customs Free Airport Act, by which transit and embarking passengers, goods and aircraft were exempt from normal customs procedures. This legislation established Shannon as an international industrial and distribution centre and stimulated further traffic growth.

Kitty downes
Kitty Downes took charge of the first duty free kiosk at Shannon Airport (Picture: Marshall Arts International)

Two months later, from a small kiosk in the terminal building, Ms Kitty Downes (left) was employed to sell souvenirs, Irish linen products and other locally produced items for the convenience of transatlantic passengers. Her name would subsequently be enshrined in duty free industry legend.

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Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin is one of Shannon Airport’s many World Rovers to have contributed much on the world travel retail stage

Today Shannon Duty Free is part of a multi-billion Euro industry which spans the globe and is an integral part of international travel. Not only was Shannon the first airport duty free shop; it has shared its knowledge and expertise with other duty free retailers in the development of duty free facilities at international airports, in CIS/Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Former Shannon Duty Free staff (including Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice-Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin) figured prominently in many of those developments, worked on the setting up and delivery of retail and support services in many of the new duty free companies that emerged overseas.

70Yr_Book
The Moodie Davitt Report is publishing a special book celebrating the 70th anniversary of duty free & travel retail later this year. For details or to pre-order click on the image.

The organisers commented: “The success of Shannon Duty Free can be attributed to the foresight, and hard work of Dr Brendan O’Regan [Catering Comptroller at Shannon Airport from 1945 and the founder of the airport duty free industry who passed away in 2008 at the age of 90 -Ed] and his founding team alongside the commitment, dedication and professionalism of the wonderful staff, who welcomed and dutifully served its customers, from the early pioneer days, and continues to the present time.

“They have been the face of Shannon Duty Free, as well as charming ambassadors for airport shopping at Shannon. It is a tribute to their combined energies and loyalty that Shannon Duty Free is on the cusp of celebrating 70 of airport shopping.”

Here are the details of the event:

Date: 29 March 2017

Time: 4pm to 9pm

Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick.

Former staff can make contact +353 (0)89 973 6753 or e-mail shannondutyfreereunion@gmail.com for more information on the forthcoming reunion.

Or contact:

Mr Denis Kelly

Chairman Shannon Duty Free Staff Reunion 2017

Phone:  +353 (0) 86 050 7183

Footnote: The story of Shannon Airport Duty Free was told in a landmark book called The World Rovers, published by The Moodie Davitt Report in 2007. Click to download.
The story of Shannon Airport Duty Free was told in a landmark book called The World Rovers, published by The Moodie Davitt Report in 2007. Click on image to download.
brendan_o_regan breeda dermot
Images from 2007 when Dr O’Regan’s life and times were honoured at an exhibition in Ennis, Ireland. (Left) Dr O’Regan with close friend Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin who described him as ‘the Father of the industry’; and (right) with The Moodie Davitt Report Co-Owner Dermot Davitt.
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(Above and below) Images from the early days of Shannon Airport Duty Free (pictures from The World Rovers, published by The Moodie Davitt Report)
shannon airport duty free
(Above and below) Then and now. How Shannon Airport Duty Free has evolved over 70 years (Top picture: Vision.ae)
Shannon Fragrances Corner-1
(Pictures of Shannon Duty Free 21st century-style courtesy of Store Design. Note the reference to Mr O’Regan.)

Shannon Mr-ORegans-Food-Store-Shannon-Duty-FreeShannon Airport Duty Free LOW RES (10)

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Today Shannon Duty Free has a thriving online business. Perhaps not even Dr Brendan O’Regan could have envisioned a global communication platform such as the Internet would ever be possible.
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