Barack Obama plaza to open with Ireland's biggest Supermacs
Who needs a presidential library when you can have your name on a petrol station on the M7?
The Barack Obama Plaza is a rest stop on the M7 between Dublin and Limerick, which features Ireland's largest Supermacs – and it's due to open this week.
It's named after the US President because it sits right by the town of Moneygall - famous as the "ancestral home" of Mr Obama - and, as opening day approaches, they've erected the official signpost.
Big rush on to finish work on Barack Obama Plaza to open this Friday in Moneygall pic.twitter.com/ubdvslPgRp
— Stephen Neill (@paddyanglican) May 27, 2014
Moneygall hopes to benefit from some increased traffic to the area, from both casual stopovers and coach tours - on top of the 60 new jobs the €7m development has created in the area.
Apart from Ireland's largest Supermacs and Papa john's pizza franchise - the owners of which are developing the plaza - the facility will also hold a Topaz petrol station, Spar, and Tim Hortons coffee shop.
Pat McDonagh, Supermacs owner, said there would also be a community area in the development, which will house displays on the relationship between Obama and Moneygall.
"The museum is an exciting prospect," said Obama’s distant relative from Moneygall, Henry Healy. "It will enrich the experience for visitors and hopefully it will entice them to come into the village to visit us when they stop off."
And for those of us with little interest in the historic connection, you'll now be able to get taco fries on the drive to Limerick.
God bless America.
