M7 at exit 23
(also accessible to traffic on the R445)
Signposted from the road.
E53 F342
map and directions
Offline (
The service area at Moneygall is much better known by its stage name, Barack Obama Plaza. It consists of several Supermac's brands under the same roof.
The unusual choice of theme from a petrol station has made the Barack Obama Plaza famous around the world. In 2019 it won 'best motorway service station' at Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards.
Facilities
Catering: Papa John's Pizza, Supermac's Drive Thru, SuperSubs, Bewleys Barista, Mac's Place Shops: SPAR Amenities: Local History Exhibition, Meeting Room Outdoor Space: Small grass area at front, by the Obama statues Charging Points: ESB ecars 200kW CCS & 70kW CHAdeMO Forecourt: Circle K
Parking Prices
Parking is free for all vehicles for a maximum of two hours only.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Barack Obama Plaza
Drumbaun
Moneygall
Co. Tipperary
E53 F342
- 🌍 Official Barack Obama Plaza website
- Twitter/X: @Obamaplaza
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 0505 45810
- 📌 what3words: ///handled.sketch.diesel
- more map options
Trivia and History
The plaza opened on 30 May 2014. It was developed privately following delays to the National Road Authority's plans for public developments.
The service area has an unusual design feature in that the car park isn't right next to the main entrance. It is a short walk down the road, almost as if the car park was forgotten about and added at the last moment. Only half of the 12-acre site is used by the restaurant, the rest has been reserved for possible future development.
The site is often wrongly referred to as being in Co. Offaly. There is a border with Offaly barely 500m on each side, but the land here is part of a small section of Tipperary which surges north to encompass the service area.
Trying to be a service area which puts something back, the services also provide information on nearby attractions and flights.
Another unusual and remarkable feature is the 1980s pop music played across the forecourt area. A car valeting service is available here too.
On 20 December 2015, the Coca-Cola's Christmas Truck Tour spent an evening at the services. It was the subject of the first three episodes of RTÉ Radio One's documentary 'Services Ahead', in which the presenter spent 24 hours at the facility.
Following the success of the Barack Obama Plaza, Supermac's went about proposing a number of new service areas with a very similar design, under the title Plaza Group.
ePower have received a grant to build a high-speed electric vehicle charging hub here.
Obama Connection
The reason for the service area's unusual name (by European standards) is that Barack Obama is descended from a family who once lived nearby. An exhibition explaining this and the history of Irish-US relations is presented on the second floor, tucked away from the hustle of the fast food outlets below. There are also pictures and cardboard cut-outs.
In 2016, Kevin O'Malley, American Ambassador to Ireland, unveiled a bust of Barack Obama which is displayed inside the main building. In August 2018, bronze statues of Barack and Michelle Obama were unveiled by the front of the site, for people to have their photos taken with. These were sculpted by Mark Rhodes.
Circle K and TII both refer to the service area by its Sunday name, 'Moneygall'.
Alternatives
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