Tributes paid to much-loved former manager of Shannon Duty Free following death aged 81

COLM MCLOUGHLIN from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, who was the former General Manager of Shannon Duty Free, passed away in the UK last week, aged 81, following a short illness.

He was part of the consulting team brought in from Aer Rianta – a forerunner to the DAA – to launch Dubai’s duty free operation in 1983.

Colm's initial contract with the government of Dubai was for six months but he ran the business for over forty years. The group’s sales increased from $20 million in 1984 to close to $2.2 billion in 2023.

Paying tribute to the late Galway native, Celia Holman Lee said Colm was there at the beginning of her life during her days working as model in Shannon in the Duty Free stores there.

"Dubai is where he went to start the Duty Free shop, which is now one of the biggest and the most successful in the world and himself and his beautiful wife Breeda were part of the whole society of Dubai for many, many years.

"His legacy would be that he created this incredible Dubai Duty Free. There's also a village in Dubai, the Irish Village that he built. That all built up around his vision."

Celia added that Colm was a wonderful man along with being kind and generous. She recalled having an encounter with him in Dubai a number of years ago.

"I was in Abu Dhabi. He heard I was there and he sent an invitation to us to come up to Dubai so he sent a car and we went up. We went to a huge tennis tournament where Roger Federer and all of the top stars were there and we were right up close and personal to this incredible event." 

She continued: "I think he was a great Irishman and he came from the stable of Dr Brendan O'Regan. It was all of them that created anything to do with travel or Shannon or airports."

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Dubai Duty Free (DDF) announced Colm's passing, saying that he was a "well-known and much-loved figure" in Dubai.

Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi posted a tribute to Colm, saying:

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Colm McLoughlin. Colm was a truly cherished member of our Irish community and leaves behind an incredible legacy. He will be greatly missed by us all. Deepest sympathies to his family and all at DDF."

Meanwhile, The Curragh Racecourse described Colm as a "true trailblazer" following his passing. "We will always remember Colm as a cherished friend and a dedicated supporter of Irish racing, and the Curragh Racecourse in particular. His contributions have left an indelible mark, and his absence will be profoundly felt."

Dubai Celts GAA added that Colm was a key supporter of the Dubai Celts and had been instrumental in helping the club grow from strength to strength. "Over the course of his career in the Middle East he has directly and indirectly impacted the lives of thousands of Irish men and women who have found a home away from home as part of our club and other Gaelic games clubs in the region. Words cannot describe the appreciation we have for Colm"

The former executive vice chairman and chief executive of the company, stepped down from his job in Dubai in May after an impressive 50 plus years in the industry and 41 at the helm of the biggest such business in the world.

Dubai Duty Free DDF became one of the largest single airport operations in the world. Colm was also a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2014 for his services to Ireland.

Colm is survived by his loving wife Breeda, son Niall, daughters Tyna and Mandy and their families.