All black in Dublin but all good in Dubai’s Turmeric Open

I know the Irish founded the duty free industry but I didn’t realise they a) still populated it in such quantity and b) all had my phone number.

In the army now (or 20 years ago…)

Although this image was taken in 1998, from the distance of two decades I can still feel the ‘thwack’ of missile on helmet as, a few minutes after this picture was snapped, I forgot to duck. This was one of the more memorable social gatherings in my early years in this industry, I recall. I

Quirky

August 13, 2018

The agony of being with an unfaithful retailer

“I am scared to ask the question outright for fear of hearing the truth. I can’t bear the thought of sharing his facings with anyone else. How can I show him I know what’s going on and get him to call it off?”

Airports

August 4, 2018

Becoming inscentsed at Orly – and another bad rap for duty free

Perhaps Booba’s Exclamation (Coty) of Insolence (by Guerlain) contradicted Kaaris’s claim that he was The One (Dolce & Gabbana)?

Airports

July 4, 2018

Bouncing towards victory with the big man in Ballyliffin

“Did you buy those clubs in a yard sale, man? Wow, they’re old…” That was how the world number five ranked golfer Jon Rahm greeted me (and my elderly set of Taylor Mades) today at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am in Ballyliffin, County Donegal. An insult from one of the world’s greats to

Quirky

June 13, 2018

Gourd almighty! It’s World Cucumber Day!

I’m even prepared to be the travel retail face of the campaign. Then again, I suppose they’re far more likely to cast Benedict Cucumberpatch.

Food

June 11, 2018

And next… from Next 88

Smart man. Or should that be smart cookie?

Airports

June 6, 2018

The search for Ireland’s most honest travelling diners

‘Customers refund restaurant’ deserves to be right up there with journalism’s most famous aphorism, ‘man bites dog’, for sheer unlikeliness.

Airports

March 13, 2018

How an old-age pensioner showed he was no old LAG

One gets the impression that if he’d brought some cheese, crackers, ham and olives in his hand luggage, he may have taken time to set out a table cloth and dine in style on the security counter.