THE doyen of suppliers of cashmere in Dublin for many years, Tom Monaghan, has marked 55 years in business this month and is hoping to make the year extra special with a win at the Melbourne Cup.

Tom has been breeding horses at the Cottage Stud in Co Kildare for the last 30 years with his son Paul. The pair are hopeful that the stayer they bred, Trip To Paris (trained by Ed Dunlop) will be successful at the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November, the 3rd.

Fresh from his excellent second to Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup last week, this four-year old winner of the Gold Cup at Ascot is generally second favourite for the showdown at Flemington.

Speaking about his two passions - retail and horses - Tom Monaghan said: “It’s a fantastic feeling to have bred a Gold Cup winner at Ascot and Ed Dunlop and the team have done a super job. His popular stable-mate Red Cadeaux may get all the attention but Trip To Paris isn’t to be underestimated and is a serious contender. It would be great to end the year with a win as we were very proud to celebrate our 55th anniversary with our customers and employees here at Monaghan’s Cashmere.

“My hobby is horses but I live and breathe retail and I am passionate about the business - a key reason why we are still trading today. I have seen all economic climates through my 55 years in business and I believe customer loyalty and relationships has been the secret of our success. Quality is our trademark and we will never compromise on this.”

Tom Monaghan set up Monaghan’s Cashmere in 1960 with his wife Teresa. They soon developed a successful business with the largest selection of cashmere available in Ireland and became hugely popular with horse racing enthusiasts who appreciate quality and long-lasting, premium classic clothing. Monaghan’s Cashmere also developed an international following among visitors.

Tom Monaghan’s huge enthusiasm for his business is still palpable - he arrives each morning at the shop at 8am and greets each customer to the store. He is an iconic figure in Dublin, always elegantly dressed with a coloured silk hankerchief in his top pocket. Let’s hope there will be more corks popping after November 3rd for Tom and family.