A new permanent exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of Dr Brendan O’Regan has opened at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, shining a spotlight on one of the most influential figures in Irish aviation history.
The Dr Brendan O’Regan Centre tells the story of the Sixmilebridge native whose vision helped transform Shannon Airport into a global aviation hub during the early years of commercial air travel. While O’Regan is widely recognised for his contributions to tourism and economic development, his impact on aviation remains one of his most enduring legacies.
As the driving force behind many pioneering initiatives at Shannon Airport, O’Regan played a key role in developing the world’s first duty-free airport shopping concept, a model that would later be adopted by airports across the globe. He was also instrumental in promoting Shannon as a major transatlantic refuelling stop and helped establish the airport as a catalyst for regional economic growth.
The new centre brings together archive material, interpretation panels and exhibition displays that explore O’Regan’s influence on aviation, tourism, industry and peacebuilding. Developed through a collaboration involving Sixmilebridge Historical Society, Shannon Chamber, Atlantic Aviation Group and other organisations closely linked to the Shannon aviation cluster, the project highlights the lasting significance of his work.
The exhibition is located within Bunratty Folk Park and was funded with support from Clare County Council and a number of aviation and aerospace organisations, including Atlantic Aviation Group, CAE Parc Aviation, Engine Lease Finance Corporation, The Shannon Airport Group, Shannon Engine Support Limited and Shannon Aviation Museum.
Speaking at the opening, Siobhán McNulty, Director of Services for Tourism, Festivals, Libraries and Cultural Services with Clare County Council, described the centre as a fitting tribute to a man whose vision transformed aviation, tourism and economic development in County Clare and far beyond.
For aviation enthusiasts visiting the west of Ireland, the new Dr Brendan O’Regan Centre offers an opportunity to learn more about the man whose ideas helped shape modern airport operations and cement Shannon Airport’s place in global aviation history.
