Brendan O'Regan

Brendan O'Regan CBE (1917–2008) was an Irish businessman responsible for developing Shannon Airport, inventing the concept of the duty-free shop and transforming the Shannon region of Ireland.[1] He was deeply involved in promoting peace in Northern Ireland and co-operation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He has been described as one of Ireland's most noted peace ambassadors and initiators of commercial and industrial projects.[2] In a tribute to him, President Mary McAleese said that O'Regan was "a true visionary" and "leaves a legacy that permeates throughout all levels of economic, social and cultural life in Ireland."[3]

Early life

Born in Sixmilebridge, County Clare in 1917, O'Regan attended Blackrock College.[4] He studied hotel management in Germany, France, Switzerland and the UK as his family had interests in hotels (the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis and the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon).[5]

Career

Early career

For a period, he was manager of the prestigious Stephen's Green Club in Dublin. In 1943, he was appointed as Catering Comptroller at Foynes flying boat base, which was a refuelling point for transatlantic seaplanes between Britain and the United States.

Shannon Airport

In 1945 he was appointed Catering Comptroller at Shannon Airport. From this base, he embarked on a series of visionary projects which transformed the Shannon Region, many of which were replicated internationally.[6] In 1947 he invented the concept of the airport duty-free shop and established the world's first duty-free shop at Shannon Airport. In 1951 he established the Shannon College of Hotel Management.

Shannon Free Zone

In 1961, he was the key driver in the establishment of Ireland's only regional development agency, Shannon Free Airport Development Company. He developed the Shannon Free Zone, a model for similar zones established throughout the world. He was Chairman of Bórd Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board from 1957 to 1973.[2][7] After a visit to the United States under the Marshall Aid Plan, he drafted a report that became the blueprint for a vision of Shannon revolving around tourism, air freight and industry.[8]

Shannon Town and Region

The success of the airport and industrial zone led to the development, spearheaded by O'Regan, of Shannon Town, the first new town in Ireland in over two centuries. He was responsible for initiatives such as turning Bunratty Castle into a tourist attraction with the co-operation of its owner Lord Gort, the model for similar initiatives at Knappogue Castle and Dunguaire Castle.[9]

Peace and co-operation

In 1978, O'Regan founded Co-Operation North (now Co-operation Ireland), a non-denominational and non-party organisation aimed at fostering co-operation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 1984, he established the Irish Peace Institute to promote peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. He also founded the Centre for International Co-operation at Shannon in 1986.[2]

Honours and tributes

He received numerous tributes for his work. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1993 for his contribution to peace. He was voted "Clareman of the Year" in 1984 and was made Freeman of the City of Limerick in 1995. He received numerous honorary doctorates including from the National University of Ireland in 1978, from Queen's University Belfast in 1999 and from the University of Limerick in 2001.[10]

In February 2007, Clare Museum held an exhibition, opened by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to mark his achievements, an almost unheard of honour for a living person.[11]

In 2015, a portrait of O'Regan by Croom artist Gearoid Hayes was unveiled by Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht at the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum.[12]

Several initiatives have been named after him including the O'Regan Park, a sporting and recreational facility in Newmarket-on-Fergus,[13] and three restaurants, one at the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, another at Shannon Airport[14] and the third at the Old Ground Hotel.[15]

Personal life and death

In 1950 he married Rita Barrow and they had two sons, Andrew and Declan, and three daughters, Geraldine, Margaret and Carmel.[16] He died in 2008, aged 90.[17][18]

Centenary of the birth: 2017

Shannon Airport announced that it would commemorate the centenary in 2017 of the birth of O'Regan, described as "founder of Shannon Airport and the man behind so many of the great innovations of the region"[19][20][21] In line with a call by Clare County Council,[22] a bronze bust sculpture of Dr O'Regan was unveiled at Shannon Airport to commemorate this milestone on 15 May 2017 (the centenary of the birth[23]) and RTE's Nationwide programme dedicated a special transmission to his legacy on 27 September 2017.[24] The Irish Times published a comprehensive assessment of his life's work in 2018.[25]

References
  1. "Tributes paid to Clare man who pioneered duty free at Shannon". The Irish Times. 4 February 2008.
  2. "Dr. Brendan O'Regan (1917–2008) Founder of Duty Free Shopping Died, Aged 90". Irish Examiner USA. 6 February 2008.
  3. "President praises O'Regan's contribution". RTÉ News. 4 February 2008.
  4. "Empowering the People". Clare Museum. February 2007.
  5. "Shannon: the man behind the vision". Clare Champion. 24 October 2015.
  6. "How it began: O'Regan's innovative dream allowed region to take off". Irish Independent. 10 February 2012.
  7. "Dr Brendan O'Regan". Shannon Airport.
  8. "Founder of duty-free shops and peace activist". The Irish Times. 9 February 2008.
  9. "Brendan O'Regan A quite extraordinary and innovative businessman whose legacy will live on in the success of the Shannon region". Irish Independent. 10 February 2008.
  10. "Dr Brendan O'Regan". University of Limerick. 5 December 2001. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  11. "'Empowering the People' – Brendan O'Regan Exhibition". Clare Museum. February 2007.
  12. "Brendan keeps watch over Foynes museum". Limerick Post. 19 June 2015.
  13. "O'Regan Park upgrade a step closer". The Clare People. 30 January 2013.
  14. "The O'Regan Restaurant". ResDiary.
  15. "Brendan O'Regan Room". TripAdvisor.
  16. "Dr. Brendan O'Regan". Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum.
  17. "Tributes to airport duty-free visionary". Irish Independent. 4 February 2008.
  18. "Brendan O'Regan dies in England". RTÉ News. 4 February 2008.
  19. "Shannon Airport to Honour Key Figure". Clare FM. 19 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
  20. "Iconic Irish rugby moment immortalized in Shannon Airport sculpture". Irish Central. 28 July 2015.
  21. "Latest News". Shannon Airport. 17 July 2015.
  22. "Plans afoot to honour key founder of Shannon Airport". Clare FM. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016.
  23. "'One of the most fascinating and influential people of our time' – Businessman Dr Brendan O'Regan honoured". The Irish Independent. 29 September 2017.
  24. "Nationwide to feature Dr Brendan O'Regan". The Clare Herald. 27 September 2017.
  25. "The Irish 'father of duty free' and saviour of Shannon: Brendan O'Regan's eureka moment came in 1950, but his legacy goes beyond cheap booze". The Irish Times. 4 October 2018.

Biography

'Brendan O’Regan: Irish Innovator, Visionary, Peacemaker' by Brian O’Connell with Cian O’Carroll, published by Irish Academic Press, 2018.

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