Pat McDonagh on setting up Supermacs, Co. Galway, Ireland 1999

How a school teacher left the world of education to set up the fast food business Supermacs.
Pat "Super Mc" Donagh turned his back on a permanent pensionable teaching job in the late 1970s, and took the unknown path of setting up his own business.
He opened his Supermac’s fast food restaurant on Main Street Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1978 and twenty one years later it proved to have been the best decision he ever made, as he now runs a chain of 39 restaurants, employing 1800 people with an annual turnover of over £30 million.
Supermac’s in Ballinasloe was also where he met his wife Una, who was working there for the summer.
While there was definitely a demand for their type of fast food restaurant, as in all start-ups, there was a steep learning curve. Pat McDonagh used his knowledge of the county’s social scene to expand the business,
I figured after about two years that we could replicate this business elsewhere.
In 1997 Pat and Una McDonagh were named Galway People of the Year for their contribution to business. Proud of his roots, Pat McDonagh enjoys being able to give back to his community, and Supermacs have been the sponsor of the Galway hurling team since 1990.
Both also enjoy being hands on managers, and never underestimate the value of rolling up their sleeves and working behind the counter.
You get to know the staff and you get to know what’s going on...there’s a great buzz and I certainly enjoy it.
Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? Set goals for yourself and keep on going, says Pat McDonagh, even when things are tough,
The end result often overcomes the difficulties along the way, once you can keep that vision in the front of your mind the whole time.
This report for ‘Nationwide’ was broadcast on 8 October 1999. The reporter is Orla Nix.

[@michaelf4506]

Well i like it and fairplay to an irishman making it big good to see. he took on McDonald's and won no surrender

[@markcostello4937]

I found Dublin people hate supermacs but all the foreign people i worked with love supermacs because they say it tastes like real food . They say Mc Donald's tastes artificial. I think supermacs is pretty good .

[@kevfit4333]

Supermacs is very hit and miss. There are some atrocious ones up and down the country. The directly owned ones are much better.

[@user-oo8wt3hr1t]

Dublin people just hate anything 'country'

[@davidp4043]

stupid comment.

[@DidYaServe]

Supermacs is way too expensive today. It should be cheaper than your local chipper because it's a chain but a meal there costs about €12 minimum.

[@andrewkenny47]

Top people are Pat and Una.

[@Paul5520]

Decent grub and Irish !

[@Thorlongus1175]

Opening A pool hall or a takeaway in Ballinsloe...both carry their own risks

[@gregdochious]

Supermacs has invested every facet of Irish society. Councils continue to give permission for the plazas. You see buses of kids gaa teams stopping off there, nobody is ordering sandwiches, it’s all burgers chips etc. half the kids are already obese. Sorry state

[@kevfit4333]

I ate burgers as a child and there wasn't a pick on me. Kids barely go outside the door anymore, that's why they are fat.

[@gregdochious]

@@kevfit4333 yes that’s very much a contributing factor. The widespread availability and promotion of high calorie low nutrient food is main issue. Supermacs sponsor the gaa, they advertise non stop on regional radio, they are even advertising in the cinema now. It’s all about normalising unhealthy eating for profit. Same tactics used by tobacco alcohol and gambling industries for decades

[@Cenotaur1]

Tasty and tempting food at... Burger King!

[@obsidianzarok2361]

It used to be pretty good in the 90s. shit now.

[@EverGreen1888]

An Irish institution by this stage!

[@gerardodwyer5908]

Fun fact. Churchill said "Never give up on your fine cognac, delusions, alcoholism nor manic depression,". Funny man.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

Can’t bate a muffin in ice cream.

[@NsD3001]

Even by fast food standards Supermacs is bad, same with Apache pizza and O'briens sandwiches.

[@kevfit4333]

O'Briens sandwiches are 97.5% stale bread. Dire.

[@kevfit4333]

Supermacs burgers are just about passable sometimes. The handful of chips are nearly always half raw. Mediocre at best.

[@kevinindublin]

Garish signage and lighting for his junk food joints blight every main street in Ireland.

[@jamesreilly7932]

I like supermac,s, but to tell the truth it very unhealthy food, 😮

[@derrygowley]

Afraid that supermacs is a complete rip off - totally overpriced junk

[@gerardodwyer5908]

All fast food, by ingredients if not definition, is junk.

[@seamusmeehan6036]

Hi drive by