Pat McDonagh (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat McDonagh
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McDonagh in 2016
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| Born | 1952/1953 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Carmelite College Mary Immaculate College |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | Founder of Supermac's, Só Hotels and the Plaza Group |
| Spouse(s) | Una McDonagh |
Patrick McDonagh is a well-known Irish businessman. He is famous for starting and owning Supermac's, a popular fast food chain in Ireland. Mr. McDonagh began his career as a school teacher before becoming a very successful multi-millionaire.
About Pat McDonagh
Pat McDonagh grew up in County Galway, Ireland, where he still lives with his wife, Una. He went to Carmelite College and Mary Immaculate College for his education. After finishing school, he worked as a teacher for some time. He even became a principal at a national school near Loughrea in County Galway.
Mr. McDonagh got his nickname "Supermac" when he played Gaelic football for his college team. This fun nickname later became the name for his famous fast food business, "Supermac's". Pat McDonagh loves sports, and his company has supported many sports teams over the years. For decades, Supermac's has sponsored Galway's football and hurling teams.
Pat McDonagh's Businesses
Pat McDonagh opened the very first Supermac's restaurant in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland, in 1978. He originally wanted to build a pool hall, but when that didn't work out, he decided to open a fast food place instead. Since then, Supermac's has grown a lot, with over 100 restaurants all across Ireland.
Mr. McDonagh also owns other businesses in the food and hotel industries. He started Claddagh Irish Pubs in the United States in 2001. These are Irish-themed pubs. In 2006, he bought the rights to open Papa John's Pizza restaurants in Ireland. By 2019, there were more than 63 Papa John's Pizza places in the country. In 2014, he also created SuperSubs, which are salad and sandwich bars found inside some Supermac's restaurants.
Besides food, Pat McDonagh owns several travel plazas across Ireland. These are places where travelers can stop for food, fuel, and other services. Some well-known ones include the Barack Obama Plaza and the Galway Plaza. He also owns several hotels, such as the Loughrea Hotel & Spa and the Castletroy Park Hotel. He bought these hotels in 2012 and 2014, and later added others like the Athlone Springs hotel in 2018.
