POPEYES, THE US fast food chain famous for its fried chicken, has announced that it will open two new restaurants in Ireland this year. 

The company confirmed that the first restaurant will open in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 “this spring”, while a second restaurant is planned for Westmoreland Street in Dublin city centre in the summer. 

It said this will create up to 500 new jobs in Ireland this year, with more to come “as part of Popeyes’ longer-term ambitions to grow its Irish presence”.

Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes has over 5,000 restaurants in over 40 markets around the world.

The company boasts of its “authentic Southern hospitality”. The menu features its signature “shatter crunchin’ chicken”, which uses fresh chicken that is hand-breaded and battered following a 12-hour marination process, resulting in a loud crunch when you take a bite. 

Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes UK and Ireland, said the expansion into Ireland “is a natural next step in our growth journey and builds on the fantastic progress we have made in the UK in the last five years”.

“Ireland represents an exciting opportunity for us, as it’s a vibrant market with a strong and growing demand for convenient, high-quality food,” he said.

“Irish consumers are open to new food experiences, and we see significant long-term potential opportunity to grow our footprint and really tap into the local culture.”

He added: “We look forward to opening more restaurants across the country in 2026 and beyond.”

Renato Rossi, of Popeyes’ parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI), said Dublin is “a dynamic market, and we’re confident Irish guests will respond strongly to our unique New Orleans-style menu”.

“This expansion reflects our disciplined approach to international growth – scaling with proven partners and replicating a model that is already delivering strong results.”