Brian O'Connell

In the 40s and 50s, every famous person that crossed the Atlantic almost certainly wound up going through Shannon.

In the 40s and 50s, every famous person that crossed the Atlantic almost certainly wound up going through Shannon.

In the 40s and 50s, every famous person that crossed the Atlantic almost certainly wound up going through Shannon.

They all had to land at Shannon Airport.

They all had to land at Shannon Airport.

They all had to land at Shannon Airport.

You were probably tired. You could be cold because, obviously, particularly the flying boats flew quite low over the Atlantic compared with planes today. So people were looking forward particularly to good food and good drink.

You were probably tired. You could be cold because, obviously, particularly the flying boats flew quite low over the Atlantic compared with planes today. So people were looking forward particularly to good food and good drink.

You were probably tired. You could be cold because, obviously, particularly the flying boats flew quite low over the Atlantic compared with planes today. So people were looking forward particularly to good food and good drink.

He was a man who was very soft-spoken, quiet, calm. There was no nonsense about him.

He was a man who was very soft-spoken, quiet, calm. There was no nonsense about him.

He was a man who was very soft-spoken, quiet, calm. There was no nonsense about him.

I think that's right. I suggest that must have been an element of it or have them sleep off a lot of the time. I don't know. But that was a tradition that went way back to, I think, 17th century or way, way, way back. Hundreds of years.

I think that's right. I suggest that must have been an element of it or have them sleep off a lot of the time. I don't know. But that was a tradition that went way back to, I think, 17th century or way, way, way back. Hundreds of years.

I think that's right. I suggest that must have been an element of it or have them sleep off a lot of the time. I don't know. But that was a tradition that went way back to, I think, 17th century or way, way, way back. Hundreds of years.

All this alcohol and tobacco has been sold duty-free.

All this alcohol and tobacco has been sold duty-free.

All this alcohol and tobacco has been sold duty-free.

They were on the high seas. So he said, wait, now we're competing with these guys by air. It's not fair. that I can't have the same tax advantages they have.

They were on the high seas. So he said, wait, now we're competing with these guys by air. It's not fair. that I can't have the same tax advantages they have.

They were on the high seas. So he said, wait, now we're competing with these guys by air. It's not fair. that I can't have the same tax advantages they have.

Because every department of finance, every customs people worldwide resist giving away tax revenue. And particularly in this case, morally, the idea of who's benefiting out of this? Wealthy people who fly the Atlantic and planes. I mean, that's only a tiny percent of the population. Why should we do any good for them?

Because every department of finance, every customs people worldwide resist giving away tax revenue. And particularly in this case, morally, the idea of who's benefiting out of this? Wealthy people who fly the Atlantic and planes. I mean, that's only a tiny percent of the population. Why should we do any good for them?

Because every department of finance, every customs people worldwide resist giving away tax revenue. And particularly in this case, morally, the idea of who's benefiting out of this? Wealthy people who fly the Atlantic and planes. I mean, that's only a tiny percent of the population. Why should we do any good for them?

But in the long run... If we do this, we'll attract people to come to Shannon. If we attract people to come to Shannon, they'll see Ireland. Some of them might decide to go and visit the place. We'll make people aware of Irish goods. Irish whiskey was not properly... It was minuscule in the US compared with Scotch whiskey. And we'll make money because I'm the franchisee of this government-owned...

But in the long run... If we do this, we'll attract people to come to Shannon. If we attract people to come to Shannon, they'll see Ireland. Some of them might decide to go and visit the place. We'll make people aware of Irish goods. Irish whiskey was not properly... It was minuscule in the US compared with Scotch whiskey. And we'll make money because I'm the franchisee of this government-owned...

But in the long run... If we do this, we'll attract people to come to Shannon. If we attract people to come to Shannon, they'll see Ireland. Some of them might decide to go and visit the place. We'll make people aware of Irish goods. Irish whiskey was not properly... It was minuscule in the US compared with Scotch whiskey. And we'll make money because I'm the franchisee of this government-owned...

and you're making the profits, so I'll make you a lot more profits, and particularly I'll make you dollar profits. Dollar.

and you're making the profits, so I'll make you a lot more profits, and particularly I'll make you dollar profits. Dollar.

and you're making the profits, so I'll make you a lot more profits, and particularly I'll make you dollar profits. Dollar.

If he hadn't done it, there would be no airport duty-free business in the world. It wouldn't ever have taken off, in my opinion. The argument that, you know, why are we doing favors for wealthy people who are traveling would have been a big factor.

If he hadn't done it, there would be no airport duty-free business in the world. It wouldn't ever have taken off, in my opinion. The argument that, you know, why are we doing favors for wealthy people who are traveling would have been a big factor.

If he hadn't done it, there would be no airport duty-free business in the world. It wouldn't ever have taken off, in my opinion. The argument that, you know, why are we doing favors for wealthy people who are traveling would have been a big factor.

You'd have shops at airports, but the duty-free industry would not have developed.

You'd have shops at airports, but the duty-free industry would not have developed.

You'd have shops at airports, but the duty-free industry would not have developed.