MaccyDs - 40 years in Ireland

JupiterKid

So next month, McDonalds will be celebrating 40 years on Emerald shores. That's a hell of a long time for a fast food chain.

Grafton Street opened on May 1 1977, followed the following year by O'Connell St. Then Dun Laoghaire in 1980 followed by Cork in 1984 and Galway in 1988.

The rest, they say, is history. In 1990 there were 15 McDonalds outlets in Ireland. There are now over 80 McDonalds outlets around the country, in every county excepting Leitrim and Roscommon. They have fed millions of Irish and provided thousands of jobs. Like or loathe them, the Golden Arches have set the standard for fast food in Ireland and other chains like Supermacs and Abrakebabra took cues from their lead in the market.

Do you like the occasional Big Mac? Do you have fond memories of birthday parties at McDonalds in your childhood? Is this thread making your mouth water for a Quarter Pounder meal right now?:D Or are they an evil global corporation making us obese?

Answers on a postcard please...

vicwatson

I'm lovin' it, just not their relationship with Ballymaloe and the Allens

endacl

Fun fact: George Hook was offered the first McDonalds franchise here, and turned it down because he thought Irish people wouldn't eat meals without plates and cutlery.

Winterlong

McDonalds is a rich mans Mr Burger.

Dr Crayfish

I love McDonalds. When I'm in one it seems to make me happy. The smells, the noises, the branding... They just seem to do it right. Once every month or two I'll treat myself to some kind of meal in there.

Glenster

I find the McMor offensive.

For Forks Sake

endacl wrote: »

Fun fact: George Hook was offered the first McDonalds franchise here, and turned it down because he thought Irish people wouldn't eat meals without plates and cutlery.

One of a litany of piss poor business decisions by the bould Hook.

stimpson

I'd rather eat my own shite

DrumSteve

TBF to them they have upped their game lately.

Some of their new burgers are alright.

PARlance

Watched the movie "Founder" last week, not a bad way to pass an hour or two. It's the story of how McDonalds became a franchise.

Parchment

Its such gank. Even the smell outside the "restaurants" makes me sick.

marcbrophy

Glenster wrote: »

I find the McMor offensive.

I find it delicious!

Now, the O Sanders junk in KFC is offensive

osarusan

Fast Food Nation was a very interesting book.

Their chips are nice, at least compared to KFC, althoughI preferred BK's whopper myself, but try to avoid all that now...apart from Donkey Ford's.

cml387

I remember the opening, as if the Second Coming was announced.
What I fail to recall is the moment that McDonalds ceased being a fast food restaurant and turned into The Embodiment Of All Evil In The World.

fatknacker

Everyone's favourite fast food that they pretend to hate when other people are listening but secretly inhale with a hangover.

JupiterKid

osarusan wrote: »

Fast Food Nation was a very interesting book.

Their chips are nice, at least compared to KFC, althoughI preferred BK's whopper myself, but try to avoid all that now...apart from Donkey Ford's.

I read fast food nation and while it gave me pause for thought, it didn't make me stop eating at McDonalds or other fast food joints. There are places that you can eat in far worse than MaccyDs.

TPD

JupiterKid wrote: »

Do you like the occasional Big Mac? Do you have fond memories of birthday parties at McDonalds in your childhood? Is this thread making your mouth water for a Quarter Pounder meal right now?:D Or are they an evil global corporation making us obese?

Yes, yes, yes, no - personal responsibility.

Edit: I hope the book was better than the film, because that was ****e and made me hungry in protest.

Tombo2001

Am not a fan, am not not a fan - it doesn't enter my radar.

However I was very intrigued when my then 4 year said to me one afternoon, completely out of the blue....

"McDonalds is the place where you get burgers".

I have no idea how their marketing reached out to a four year old, but somehow it did.

osarusan

JupiterKid wrote: »

There are places that you can eat in far worse than MaccyDs.

And Donkey Ford's is one of them.

And it wasn't so much about the quality of the food, it was about the real estate and franchise aspect to it, the damage to the butchering industry, and so on.

Cordell

PARlance wrote: »

Watched the movie "Founder" last week, not a bad way to pass an hour or two. It's the story of how McDonalds became a franchise.

Good one indeed. It also hints that the "original" McD hadn't the cardboard taste that we enjoy today...
What I like about it is that you know exactly what to expect anywhere in the world, whereas other franchises like KFC and Burgerking will differ.

Viscount Aggro

Its gone expensive, 7 or 8 Euro for a "meal"
Notice the way they no longer display a full menu with prices - thought that was illegal.

topper75

Viscount Aggro wrote: »

Its gone expensive, 7 or 8 Euro for a "meal"
Notice the way they no longer display a full menu with prices - thought that was illegal.

Aye.

Plus €2, and you are eating a carvery roast with a knife and fork, at a table, civilized, like a Christian (as my gran would say).

Richard Hillman

A fine establishment for a quick bite to eat when you are on the go. Can't go wrong with a quick €2 double cheeseburger

Walter H Price

Just back from Prague and McDonalds over there has some serious stuff , Spare Ribs , Emmental cheese sticks , a Bohemian McMor equivalent that's unreal , Hotdog's and Pilsner on tap need to seriously get on getting that stuff over here.

Normally i wouldn't go when away , id try the local food , but i was on a 5 day stag and there was a 24 hour McDonalds downstairs from the apartment, was an absolute gift

PARlance

topper75 wrote: »

Aye.

Plus €2, and you are eating a carvery roast with a knife and fork, at a table, civilized, like a Christian (as my gran would say).

Plus €2 and you can get a double cheese burger with that large Big Mac meal.

whoopsadoodles

I was only just thinking when I posted in the grandmother thread "how long is McDonald's in Ireland if Nan was buying me burgers as a kid".

Now I know!

Jayop

It's grand stuff once in a while or if you're on a journey somewhere to stop in for a quick bite.

Riesen_Meal

That McMor meal is a thing of beauty

Boom_Bap

uuuuggghhh, I had a McDonalds meal last week and it destroyed my insides for a few days. I vow to never eat there again.....but I know that it'll happen again in a few weeks.

As mentioned earlier, the movie 'The Founder' is well worth watching to see how it spread rapidly accross the US initially.

Sabre0001

I lived very near one as a kid but it was only an occasional treat. Nowadays I wouldn't eat there often, but do enjoy a burger and fries combo once in a while. And I really like their doughnuts and McFlurrys. But I resist more often than not

Glenster

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I have no idea how their marketing reached out to a four year old, but somehow it did.

They probably saw an ad,

Or was talking to one of their peers.

Or it was in a TV show.

Or they saw a billboard.

Or saw one of the buildings.


How long did you expect a four year old not to know about the existence of a business that is in every town in every country in the world?

sbsquarepants

I don't get the love for McDonalds - I wouldn't care if I never had one again. I often go years between eating it as it is, it's just tasteless shíte!

andekwarhola

About once or twice a year I get an impulse to eat something there if passing and always regret it.

Not through any snobbishness about fast food. It just makes me feel queasy after eating it.

Winterlong

topper75 wrote: »

Aye.

Plus €2, and you are eating a carvery roast with a knife and fork, at a table, civilized, like a Christian (as my gran would say).

Ya can't get a carvery at 2 in the morning with a belly full of beer on ya!

HigginsJ

Ate there with our small ones for the 1st time there last month, my son as not impressed with the "burger" he got. He likes his burger from CoqBull, was really disappointed. He is only 3 and we have ruined him!!

I didn't enjoy it, I had the chicken legend (1st time in over 2 years) and I have to say I don't know what I liked about it. The standard is not the best and the prices are creeping up alright.

diomed

I was in one once in the 1980s accompanying someone.
Every week I walk by the McDonalds in Stillorgan.
My fast food comes from the Chinese take-away across the road.
McDonalds advertising to young children is grooming.

Steve F

Anyone remember that story about someone buying a happy meal and leaving it in an office for months and months and it didn't rot?
Also,are their fries really potato or just flour?

Loveinapril

endacl wrote: »

Fun fact: George Hook was offered the first McDonalds franchise here, and turned it down because he thought Irish people wouldn't eat meals without plates and cutlery.

My ma won't eat there for this exact reason. Notions.

Omackeral

I like McJezzy's (that's what my 5 year old nephew calls it) but I hate the scrotes that leave their rubbish everywhere instead of disposing of it. Stop being a pig-dog your whole life and just throw into the bin. Great memories of sitting on the colourful train upstairs in the Phibsboro branch. It's gone now though, both the upstairs and the train actually

Omackeral

andekwarhola wrote: »

About once or twice a year I get an impulse to eat something there if passing and always regret it.

Not through any snobbishness about fast food. It just makes me feel queasy after eating it.

That, or else you belch and you're hungry again.

circadian

I didn't have my first McDonalds until I was well into my teens since there wasn't one nearby.

MehDonalds

TheFitz13

You can't beat maccers chicken nuggets at 4 in the morning while your absolutely twisted accompanied by their amazing curry sauce and the last of a naggin of vodka.

foxatron

I used to go there as a kid. These days when im older and wiser i realise the food is pure ****e. But I still love it. I go every now and again. In fact i'd murder a big mac right now.

SEPT 23 1989

Things were better when Ronald ran the show

Agent Coulson

I only eat there when they have the McRib so it's been a while.


Bring back the McRib.

Strong Life in Dublin

TheFitz13 wrote: »

You can't beat maccers chicken nuggets at 4 in the morning while your absolutely twisted accompanied by their amazing curry sauce and the last of a naggin of vodka.

maccers sell curry sauce?

Summer wind

I was in Rome and had the worst hangover ever in the history of the world. Never in my life was I so glad to see a McDonald's. Two large cartons of hot salty chips later and I felt almost human again.

SEPT 23 1989

Strong Life in Dublin wrote: »

maccers sell curry sauce?

Sweet sweet curry sauce

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

We were actually only talking about McDonald's earlier in my office, there's only 1 in Athlone but we used to have 2 - the one in the town centre is gone for one reason or another which I find surprising as it was across from a shopping centre and always seemed to be busy. It was a pure skanger magnet though.

I have to admit, I do enjoy the odd sneaky drive-thru on a long journey, but, like any good culchie, I prefer Supermacs.

TerrorFirmer

I think McDonalds is OK, don't eat there often but don't get why so many people go out of their way to stress just how much they apparently loathe it. Would never be my first choice but it's grand for what it is and some of the burgers are tasty in that sort of crappy indulgent way.

Nothing to rival Supermac's Chicken Breast Sandwich though!

Help!!!!

Having eaten MaccyD's in London I can tell you they are so much better in Ireland. Burgers freshly cooked rather than ones left in the heating tray for god knows how long. Nice clean restaurants here as well. Swore years ago while living in London that I'd never eat in there again, since being back I make regular monthly journeys