Where is the best service station? - Henry McKean Reports

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman. On Newstalk, with Kiya.

SPEAKER_2 (0:08)

Now, on The Hard Shoulder this evening, we're trying to find out the best service station in the country. Henry McKean was out and about asking what people want in the service station. Is it the food? Is it EV stations? Is it the choice of fuel, the coffee or just clean toilets?

Henry McKean (0:24)

What were the petrol stations like when you were growing up?

SPEAKER_4 (0:26)

Well, they were very basic. You only got petrol, you didn't get anything else. Now you can get everything in it.

Henry McKean (0:32)

Like everything, everything?

SPEAKER_4 (0:33)

Everything.

Henry McKean (0:34)

And what are you looking for today in the service station?

SPEAKER_5 (0:37)

I'm looking to win the EuroLotto.

SPEAKER_6 (0:39)

You're here to get a lotto?

Henry McKean (0:41)

Best of luck.

SPEAKER_4 (0:42)

Thank you.

Henry McKean (0:43)

So we're trying to find Ireland's greatest and best service station. These service stations have popped up since our motorway infrastructure was built during the boom, followed by the crash. And so many towns perhaps have been bypassed, places like Moat, for instance, and others.

But the service station, you could say, has become a community hub up and down the country. We meet people and we ask them, what is their favorite service station and why?

SPEAKER_4 (1:14)

Well, actually, I have to concur with the one for Balbirgain here, for Circle K. So they have lots of special offers. They have their loyalty card. They have cheap petrol. They also do free car washes every so often. They're very pleasant. The staff are fab. And they do have supermarkets, and they do have coffee, and they have everything. They're really, really pleasant. However, another one, Whores in Main Street in Rush.

We absolutely love it. It's local. We're supporting local people. We're keeping that one open. And they can't be more friendly. They are fabulous, and the coffee's fab.

Henry McKean (1:45)

So Whores in Main Street Rush you love.

SPEAKER_4 (1:47)

Whores in Main Street Rush, absolutely, yes.

Henry McKean (1:48)

Do you remember in the olden days, when you went to a petrol station, they would actually fill the car for you?

SPEAKER_4 (1:53)

They used to pump it for us. Yeah, Blakes Cross in Lusk, on the road to Lusk, Blakes Cross, they always had guys pumping the petrol. Totally, yeah.

Henry McKean (2:02)

You missed that?

SPEAKER_4 (2:02)

I totally missed it. We were kids, and my parents used to go, and they'd give them a few bob, and at Christmas time, they'd give them their Christmas box, so they'd get their biscuits, they'd get their sweets, and they'd get a few bob.

Henry McKean (2:12)

So up and down the country, Junction 14 Mayfield, for me, I like that one. Also, there's a really good one on the outskirts of Cashel, just there, another Circle K, that one's quite good. You can even see the Rock of Cashel from the Petco Station.

SPEAKER_4 (2:27)

My goodness, I do, I know that one, but actually, there's another one comes to mind, Bird Hill, so the one on Bird Hill, they have a Burger King, a big Burger King there. When we go up and down to Kerry, that's our stop off. We have to go, that's the kids' tradition.

Henry McKean (2:41)

That's the one.

SPEAKER_4 (2:42)

That's the one.

Henry McKean (2:42)

And you have a traditional one that you have to visit?

SPEAKER_4 (2:44)

We do, indeed, every time.

Henry McKean (2:46)

When Obama Plaza opened, I was amazed. I'm still amazed that there's photographs of Barack Obama, and even a museum upstairs dedicated to him when he visited all those years ago, back in 2011 For you, what you want in the service station, is it the coffee, is it the loo?

SPEAKER_6 (3:00)

Good service and maybe the loo.

Henry McKean (3:04)

It's important to have a good toilet, isn't it?

SPEAKER_6 (3:05)

It's important to have, yeah, just in case.

SPEAKER_5 (3:07)

Especially if you're travelling long distance.

Henry McKean (3:09)

You're here at the service station at the moment. What are you getting?

SPEAKER_5 (3:13)

Petrol.

Henry McKean (3:13)

Just the petrol?

SPEAKER_2 (3:14)

Just the petrol today, yeah.

Henry McKean (3:16)

And this man here, he's come out with a whole pizza.

SPEAKER_5 (3:19)

Oh, I know.

SPEAKER_6 (3:20)

Great spot.

Henry McKean (3:21)

Great spot.

SPEAKER_5 (3:21)

Great spot.

SPEAKER_6 (3:21)

Tasty. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_1 (3:23)

And it's just where we come for a break and work.

Henry McKean (3:25)

So you like coming.

SPEAKER_6 (3:26)

Yeah.

Henry McKean (3:27)

What did you have?

SPEAKER_1 (3:28)

Just a cup of coffee.