The owner of Supermac’s, Galway man Pat McDonagh, is continuing his run of motorway plazas with another on the M7 at Portlaoise.
Laois County Council have given McDonagh planning approval for a two storey retail building with a Supermac’s drive thru and a six pump forecourt.
The development, similar to the Barack Obama plaza in Moneygall, is part of a larger plan for Togher Enterprise Park at Junction 17 on the motorway.
According to the Irish Independent the council said the development was a unique opportunity to bring a cluster of related enterprises and grow Portlaoise’s economic base.
McDonagh’s plaza will include the second Supermac’s outlet serving the town of Portlaoise.
For his part, Pat McDonagh said that getting approval was a crucial step forward for the development.
The plaza is expected to create 60 jobs during the first phase of its construction.
When its operational, McDonagh estimates it will require between 80 and 100 full and part-time employees.
As of now, 2020 has been given as the completion date for the project, at an estimated cost of €10 million.
McDonagh also has another plaza on the Galway to Limerick motorway outside Ennis.
Applegreen’s owner Petrogas has been vocal in its opposition to the project, which they say will harm the town’s economy.
However, McDonagh says the project would create 100 full time jobs and 80 during construction.
Despite previously getting planning approval, the project was put on hold by Clare County Council when it emerged that dozens of letters of support submitted were forged.
