This article is from page 8 of the 2011-08-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
MOVES are being made to have a tangible tribute to mark the contribution made by the late Dr Brendan O’Regan to the aiport and the Shannon region.
Speaking about the year in which Shannon College of Hotel Management is celebrating its 60th birthday, the director, Philip J Smyth, said that it is fitting that some tribute be put in place for the man creditied with the creation of the free zone and duty free.
Now the Mayor of Shannon, Mary Brennan, intends to bring a proposal to the town council to have some landmark which will bear Dr O’Regan’s name.
The Shannon College was founded by Dr O’Regan in 1951. Mr Smyth said that in facing current financial challenges, Dr O’Regan’s vision is an inspiration which can be brought to bear.
“His entrepreneur’s spirit is exactly what is needed now. He had incredible dynamic and vision. He gave the world duty free shops, the Shannon free zone and developed the airport and then there’s our own jewel in the crown in terms of educating the hoteliers of tomorrow. It is fitting that some tribute be paid now, whether it be a statue or a road named after him or whatever,” the director said.
When contacted by The Clare People , Mayor Brennan said she would “certainly support such a suggestion. Dr O’Regan brought so much to the Shannon region. He had such foresight and brought industry and jobs here. That kind of commitment cannot be ignored.”
Mayor Brennan said that she feels that erecting a plaque or naming a road after Dr O’Regan would “be a more practical proposal than erecting a statue, given current finances. But I will be bringing a motion to the September meeting of the Shannon Town Council to that effect and I’ll speak to other members in the meantime. I’m sure my fellow councillors will support it. We owe a great deal to Dr O’Regan and the tremendous things he did here.”
Once passed by Shannon Town Council, the plan will have to go before a full meeting of Clare County Council for approval and help with funding.