Supermac’s long-standing support has a key role in Galway’s success

As the All-Ireland hurling final approaches on Sunday, the Galway jersey with its Supermac’s logo is everywhere to be seen. In every village in Galway, along the streets of the city, and, indeed, right around the globe through the channel of social media.

For Galway people, Supermac’s is now imbedded in the culture of the Tribes while, for others, it is a declaration of a person’s ‘Irishness, particularly those who have emigrated and reside abroad. For those who return home, a Supermac’s outlet is usually one of their first destinations as they look to reacquaint themselves with home comforts.

When owners, Pat and Una McDonagh, opened their first Supermac’s outlet in Ballinasloe in 1978, little could they have known how their business would grow to the empire it has become today – or that they would become one of the longest running sports sponsorships in Irish sport.

Although the Supermac’s brand did not appear on the Galway hurling jersey until 1991, they had been one of the first contributors to the county hurlers’ training fund long before that. In later years, they have also rowed in behind the county footballers, along with the camogie and ladies football teams.

Sitting in the Lough Rea Hotel – one of a number of hotels he has absorbed into the company’s portfolio – McDonagh is a picture of contentment. Around him, the Galway hurlers press day is being held. The place is a hive of activity.

As he notes himself, with all Galway teams being extremely competitive in their championships in 2018, it has been a fantastic year. “It is amazing. When one team gets over the line, as the senior hurlers did last year, it gives a bit of confidence and a bit of self-belief and a bit of enthusiasm for the others to follow suit.

“There has been a pride that has been generated with winning the Liam McCarthy Cup after so many years and that has spread and it is contagious around the county – and around the other teams as well. I think that is what has given those other teams that little bit of an extra boost to go and achieve more and to go for it.”

Sport, as in business, requires a great deal of the same attributes – self-belief, mental toughness, confidence, and pride in what you are doing – and the managing director of Supermac’s believes these are now permeating throughout all teams in the county.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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