Barack Obama Plaza
Barack Obama Plaza is a motorway service area on the R445 road at Junction 23, just off the M7 motorway in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is beside the village of Moneygall, which is just across the county border in County Offaly, and is accessed using the Junction 23 slip roads. It is named after U.S. president Barack Obama, whose third great-grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, lived in Moneygall and emigrated to the US in 1850. The Plaza cost €7 million to construct and opened on 30 May 2014. An Obama museum–visitor centre opened on the following 4 July. The Plaza is owned and operated by Pat McDonagh and his wife Una McDonagh.
Facilities
The service station, operating under the Circle K brand, has 26 petrol pumps across two forecourts, offering unleaded petrol, diesel, MGO, diesel exhaust fluid, and LPG. Charging stations include a fast-charge ESB electric car charge point.In addition to fuel supplies, there is a variety of food outlets, including Supermac's, Papa John's Pizza, Mac's Place Bakery and Carvery, Bewleys coffee and a Spar shop. The Plaza also includes a visitor centre that provides information on Obama's family connections to Moneygall, where his great-great-great-grandfather lived until emigrating in 1850. The centre also has five meeting rooms and a large function room.
A Local Link bus service, No. 854 between Roscrea and Nenagh, calls at Barack Obama Plaza seven days a week. The service connects with the local communities of Toomevara, Cloughjordan and Shinrone.