Dr Brendan O’Regan Hear our industry’s founder talk about the Shannon Airport years 1950-1958, and the early days of duty free – with thanks to Shannon Development |
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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.
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.
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.
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