Letterkenny opening to take McDonald’s to 100 Irish restaurants

McDonald’s is set to reach 100 restaurants in the Republic of Ireland when its second Letterkenny location opens on 2 December. The Port Road restaurant will create 80 jobs and will be operated by franchisee Aaron Byrne, adding another Donegal address to the brand’s locally owned network.

Port Road opening scheduled for December

The new restaurant is scheduled to trade seven days a week, from 6am until midnight, according to a Donegal News report published on 4 November. It will complement McDonald’s existing restaurant at Letterkenny Retail Park rather than replace it.

The opening will bring a mix of full-time and part-time crew-member roles to the town. The reported 80 jobs relate specifically to the new restaurant, giving the development a clear local employment dimension alongside its significance for the wider network.

For customers, the announcement establishes both the location and the intended daily opening hours. For Ireland’s franchise community, it provides a concrete example of expansion by an existing operator, with an identified site, opening date and employment commitment.

The December date remains a scheduled opening: the restaurant and its jobs should not yet be counted as an already completed addition to Letterkenny’s business community.

An established franchisee adds a Donegal location

Aaron Byrne also operates McDonald’s restaurants across Mayo, Galway, Clare and Limerick. The Letterkenny development therefore sits within an existing multi-restaurant business rather than marking the arrival of a first-time operator.

Welcoming the announcement, Byrne said: “The opening of a second McDonald’s restaurant in Letterkenny will further strengthen McDonald’s connection with the people of Donegal.”

He added: “We are exceptionally proud to bring further jobs and investment to the area and look forward to welcoming customers and continuing to play an active role in the local community.”

That local ownership is central to the story. According to the Donegal News report, McDonald’s restaurants in Ireland are owned and operated by 18 franchisees, who collectively employ more than 7,500 people nationwide.

The Port Road announcement is an expansion by a named franchisee, not an invitation to apply to operate the restaurant. Prospective owners should keep that distinction in mind when following opening announcements: growth within a franchise network does not, by itself, establish that new franchise applications or territories are available.

Drive-through, parking and outdoor seating

The new restaurant will cover 415 square metres and feature a dual-lane drive-through. Plans also include 40 car-parking spaces, electric-vehicle charging facilities and an outdoor seating area.

Together, those details establish the physical format of the Port Road development. It will combine restaurant seating and outdoor space with facilities for customers arriving by car, rather than being solely a walk-in town-centre outlet.

The announced hours will cover early morning through to midnight, but the restaurant is not being presented as a 24-hour operation. That distinction is useful for customers planning visits and for businesses assessing the local trading landscape.

For franchise operators considering their own premises, the site offers a specific example of the facilities being included in a new Irish restaurant. Its size and parking provision describe this location, however, rather than a universal specification for future McDonald’s openings.

Fifth new Irish restaurant of 2026

Port Road is identified as McDonald’s fifth new Irish opening of 2026. It follows restaurants in New Ross, Co Wexford; Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Thurles, Co Tipperary; and Carrigaline, Co Cork.

The Letterkenny restaurant forms part of the company’s commitment to open five new restaurants a year in Ireland over the coming years. Its scheduled arrival also creates a distinct network milestone: 100 restaurants in the Republic of Ireland.

The immediate story is nevertheless local and specific. A second Letterkenny restaurant will add another trading address, new employment and a further investment by an established franchise operator.

Practical takeaway: Local jobseekers and customers should watch for recruitment and opening updates ahead of 2 December. Prospective franchise owners should treat this as an existing franchisee’s expansion, not an advertised opportunity to acquire the Port Road restaurant.