Ireland’s first Taco Bell restaurant opens in Co Meath today

The country's first Taco Bell restaurant will open today as part of a EUR15m investment by Applegreen in a new motorway service station off Junction 6 on the M3 in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath. Known for its Mexican-inspired food, Taco Bell has over 8,700 restaurants across the world. The chain primarily sells fast food such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos.

The opening comes after Applegreen signed a new partnership with the US-based fast-food company. Applegreen has also recently introduced Taco Bell restaurants at several of its Welcome Break motorway service areas in the UK. The company's new outlet in Co Meath will also feature an M&S Food "shop-in-shop," a new Braeburn Coffee Cafe and a Burger King restaurant.

In addition, there will be a convenience store, a service station forecourt, and an initial eight EV charging ports. Applegreen has said it will be creating just over 100 jobs at its new outlet. The fuel and forecourt retailer opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in Dublin in 1992 and now operates at almost 200 locations across the country.

The company has said its new Dunshaughlin service station marks its "largest single investment project" this year.

Applegreen also said the motorway service area is part of a EUR1 billion plan to expand its business in Ireland, the UK and the US over the next five years.

Seamus Stapleton, managing director of the business' Republic of Ireland arm, previously said the company plans to open several additional Taco Bell restaurants at its locations here during that period.