WORLD ROVERS - The Moodie Report

The
WORLD ROVERS
The story of the Irish influence on the global duty free industry
How it all began: the Shannon story
The great East European adventure
Changing the face of Middle East airports
The retailing pioneers
Published by The Moodie Report

Contents
3 Foreword by Dr Brendan O’Regan
9 Introduction: The inspirations behind a
great Irish story
12 Small beginnings, big ambitions…
the birth of an industry
20 Celebrating the life of a duty free
pioneer and a man of conscience
30 Liam Skelly and the Soviet Union:
the Russian adventure begins
38 Tough early days: On the ground at
Moscow Duty Free
48 A lasting love affair with Mother Russia
54 Partnership for profit: On location in
St Petersburg
57 Kyiv Duty Free: An Irish–Ukrainian
success story
61 The Irish influence spreads: Putting
Ireland on the Middle East map
62 A living legend: Colm McLoughlin
in profile
Publisher Martin Moodie
Editor Dermot Davitt
Production Editor Jon Elphick
Designer Ray Heath
Commercial Director Mandy Shine
Advertising Development Director Claire Wates
www.TheMoodieReport.com
e-mail: Martin@TheMoodieReport.com
©Published by The Moodie Report
12 20
Pioneer, patriot, man of peace:
Brendan O’Regan
30 38
Russian Rover: Irish industry
hero Liam Skelly
54
Spirit of friendship: the Lenrianta partners
62
Contents | THE WORLD ROVERS
Where it all began:
Shannon in the 1950s
Moscow Duty Free: the foundation
of ARI’s big East European push
Industry ambassador:
Colm McLoughlin
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72, 93 83
Roving women: Susan Whelan and Breeda McLoughlin
100
Pride of Ireland:
Frank O’Connell
72 Behind every great man… the Breeda
McLoughlin story
78 Settled in Dubai: Home from home
in the Gulf
83 A long way from Tipperary with
Clonmel man John Sutcliffe
93 Other places, other faces: Asia,
Europe and North America
100 On the home front: Frank O’Connell
and Ireland’s airports
103 The DFS link: Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney
104 118
Great Irish brands: the home
of Jameson
104 Ireland’s brands and brand ambassadors
118 Securing the future of ‘Ireland Inc’
at Aer Rianta International
Contents | THE WORLD ROVERS
Spreading the sporting gospel: Gaelic football in Oman
Rovers reunited: a gathering of the Irish duty free diaspora
in Cannes in 1997
Dedications
From the Publisher, Martin Moodie
The World Rovers is dedicated to my mother (Mary
Madeleine Sophia O’Neill), born in Dublin, 2 July 1926,
for putting the Irish blood in my Kiwi veins – All Black and
green isn't a bad combination; to Dr Brendan O’Regan,
that finest and most inspirational of men, who started it
all; and to Colm McLoughlin, my friend and mentor, who
kept encouraging me on the project.
From the Editor, Dermot Davitt
To my wife Michelle, another World Rover and an inspira-
tion; and to all of those Rovers who don’t feature in this
book, but whose contribution to Ireland abroad has
been immense.
With special thanks to: Aer Rianta International; Clare
Museum; Colm McLoughlin; Dr Brendan O’Regan;
Foynes Flying Boat Museum; Liam Flood; Mankind Must
Manage a World Without War; Shannon Development
Cover image: ‘The Session’, a sculpture depicting three
musicians at The Irish Village, run by Dubai Duty Free
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