Pat McDonagh (businessman)

Patrick "Pat" McDonagh is the founder and owner of Supermac's, a major Irish fast food franchiser. He is a former school teacher, and now a multi-millionaire.[1]

Pat McDonagh
Born
Galway, Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationCarmelite College
Mary Immaculate College
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1978–present
Spouse(s)Una McDonagh

Personal life

McDonagh is a native of County Galway, where he lives with his wife Una. He was educated at Carmelite College, Moate, County Westmeath, and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.[2]

He earned the nickname "Supermac" whilst playing Gaelic football for the Carmelite College in Moate. This then became the choice of name for his business, "Supermac’s".[3]

Business ventures

McDonagh founded Supermac's in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland in 1978 after failing to get planning permission to build a pool hall. He expanded the franchise to over 118 stores across Ireland. His wife Una is also on the board of directors and is also involved in the running of the business.

He also owns other business ventures in the food and customer service industry. Among these are the Claddagh Irish Pubs, an Irish pub-themed chain in the United States, founded in 2001.[4] In 2006 McDonagh bought the Franchise Rights for Papa John's Pizza in Ireland.[5] As of 2019, there were over 63 Papa John's Pizza outlets throughout the country.[6] In 2014, he established SuperSubs salad and sandwich bars which operate from some Supermac's outlets.[7]

McDonagh's other ventures include travel plazas across Ireland including the Barack Obama Plaza off the M7 at Moneygall, Tipperary Town Plaza (Limerick Road), Mallow N20 Plaza (Limerick Road), the Galway Plaza Junction 16 on the M6 and the Charlestown Service Station in County Mayo.[8] He also owns the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise and the Charleville Park Hotel, Cork which he purchased after the development of the Loughrea Hotel & Spa, Galway and the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick which were bought in 2014 and 2012 respectively.[9][10]

Sporting sponsorships

McDonagh is a sports fan, having a particular interest in GAA. Supermac's has sponsored sports teams including Galway Hurling Teams, Connacht Rugby, Galway Camogie Teams, the Irish Rowing Squad and local sports clubs around Ireland. With his wife, Una, they are supporters of charities and of the Arts in Ireland.

As of 2018, McDonagh's company, Supermac's, was in its 28th year of sponsoring Galway Hurling, and announced an updated sponsorship deal through to 2022.[11] However, in October 2019 Supermac's issued a statement calling on the county board to explain how the money they provided was spent and to make public the results of two financial reviews.[12]

References
  1. Byers, David (2 February 2003). "How I Made It: Pat McDonagh, md, Supermac's". The Times. London. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  2. "Pat McDonagh The CV". The Irish Independent. 8 April 2007.
  3. "Sweet taste of success for fast food sponsor". Independent.ie. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  4. Mulligan, John (29 March 2008). "Supermac's owner acquires Claddagh chain for $10m". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  5. Tuesday; July 29; 2008 (29 July 2008). "McDonagh buys Papa John's pizza franchise". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. "About Papa John's pizza restaurants in Ireland". Welcome to Papa John's. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  7. Advertiser, ANNE MARIE CARROLL Galway; Thu; Jun 23; 2016. "Salad days". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 17 April 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. "Home Page". The Plaza Group. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  9. Flanagan, Peter (26 June 2015). "Supermacs founder closes deal to buy Killeshin Hotel in Laois". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  10. "Pat McDonagh takes over the Charleville Park Hotel". www.limerickleader.ie. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  11. "Supermac's in five year deal with Galway GAA for €2m". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  12. "'Disappointed' Galway GAA respond to Supermac's request". 2 October 2019. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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