New service station near Ennis, but drop in spend on fuel

A new €20m motorway service station on the M18 has been officially opened, creating 120 new jobs.

The Banner Plaza is located to the east of Ennis, at junction 12 on the motorway linking Galway and Limerick.

It is part of The Plaza Group, which owns and operates a number of motorway service stations around the country, including the Barack Obama Plaza.

The Plaza Group is owned by Pat McDonagh, who is also behind the Supermacs fast food chain.

The opening of Banner Plaza, which has been a decade in development, comes against the backdrop of a global fuel crisis.

Mr McDonagh said he is pleased to finally see cars in the forecourt, however, there has been a drop in spend on fuel by motorists as prices rise because of the Iran war.

People are buying what fuel they need and using it sparingly, he added.

He said he fears a recession if the war does not end soon. “It takes away a lot of the disposable income and when that is removed from society then a recession occurs.”

The Plaza Group owner said if the price of a litre of fuel goes above €2.30 or €2.40, the Government will have to step in again, “because people cannot afford to see it go to €2.40 or €2.50”.

“I don’t think the country can afford that. I don’t think it’s going to be good for the country whatsoever.”

Watch: How are people feeling about prices at the pump?

Mr McDonagh said: “It’s the worst time ever for making a margin on fuel because we don’t like putting up prices. You try to give as good value as you can.”

He said operating fuel forecourts is “a very unpredictable kind of business” because if fuel is bought at a high price, “your tanks are full at the wrong price and you’re at a loss-making situation”.

Motorists will see a lot of fluctuation at petrol stations right across the country depending on when the fuel is bought, Mr McDonagh said.

The Banner Plaza was officially opened by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien.

The development ends a 100km stretch of motorway between Limerick and Galway that previously had no service facilities.

It is seen as a significant investment along the Atlantic Corridor, a route used by tens of thousands of motorists each day.

Alongside petrol and diesel the service station has eight “super-fast” EV charging points, as well as a large food court.