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.
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. 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".
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. In 2006 McDonagh bought the Franchise Rights for Papa John's Pizza in Ireland. As of 2019, there were over 63 Papa John's Pizza outlets throughout the country. In 2014, he established SuperSubs salad and sandwich bars which operate from some Supermac's outlets. McDonagh's other ventures include travel plazas across Ireland including the Barack Obama Plaza off the M7 at Moneygall, Tipperary Town Plaza, Mallow N20 Plaza, the Galway Plaza Junction 16 on the M6 and the Charlestown Service Station in County Mayo. 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.
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. 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.
