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 the person who started and owns Supermac's, a very popular fast-food chain in Ireland. Before he became a successful businessman, he worked as a school teacher.
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Pat McDonagh's Life Story
Pat McDonagh grew up in County Galway, Ireland. He still lives there today with his wife, Una. He went to Carmelite College in Moate, County Westmeath. After that, he studied at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.
He trained to be a teacher and worked in a national school. He even became a principal near Loughrea, County Galway.
How "Supermac" Got His Name
Pat McDonagh got his nickname "Supermac" when he played Gaelic football. He played for Carmelite College in Moate. This nickname later became the name for his famous fast-food business, "Supermac's".
Pat loves sports, and his company shows it! Supermac's has sponsored many sports teams. For example, they have supported Galway's football and hurling teams for many years.
Building a Business Empire
Pat McDonagh started Supermac's in 1978. He opened the first restaurant in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. Fun fact: he originally wanted to build a pool hall, but he couldn't get permission! So, he decided to open a fast-food place instead.
Supermac's grew very quickly. Now, there are over 100 Supermac's restaurants all across Ireland.
More Than Just Burgers
Pat McDonagh owns many other businesses too. Most of them are in the food and hotel industry.
- Claddagh Irish Pubs: In 2001, he started a chain of Irish-themed pubs in the United States.
- Papa John's Pizza: 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 places in the country.
- SuperSubs: In 2014, he created SuperSubs. These are salad and sandwich bars found inside some Supermac's restaurants.
Hotels and Travel Plazas
Pat McDonagh also owns many travel plazas and hotels. Travel plazas are like big service stations with food and shops.
Some of his well-known travel plazas include:
- The Barack Obama Plaza off the M7 at Moneygall.
- The Galway Plaza, located at Junction 16 on the M6 motorway.
- The Charlestown Service Station in County Mayo.
He also owns several hotels. These include the Loughrea Hotel & Spa in Galway and the Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick. He has also bought other hotels like the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise and the Charleville Park Hotel in Cork.
