McDonald's Foyleside marks 30 years by honoring long-serving staff

McDonald’s Foyleside is marking 30 years in the heart of Derry – with the birthday spotlight falling firmly on the people who turned a city-centre restaurant into a local fixture.

Franchisee David Walker said the anniversary belongs to the crew – especially four stalwart employees who’ve been there since the very beginning in 1995.

“We have great people working for us and that’s why we’re the success we are today,” said David, who also owns the other two McDonald’s restaurants in Derry, as well as the stores in Strabane, Enniskillen, Omagh and Cookstown.

“In particular, four of the team – Simon Devlin, Susanne Watson, Moira Deans and Alan Oakley - have a total of 120 years’ service between them, which is just incredible. 

“Their hard work, affability, dedication to the company and to colleagues has helped us build a winning formula. Any organisation is only as good as its people and our people are what makes McDonald’s Foyleside great.”

Shift manager Simon Devlin joined Foyleside at 17, learned the restaurant ropes and found his future. 

“I applied for a job at McDonald’s and got it and I’ve never looked back,” the 47-year-old said.

Simon’s currently a shift manager at the Crescent Link Retail Park restaurant, where he’s been based for 13 years.

He previously worked at McDonald’s in Foyleside Shopping Centre and that’s where he met his partner.

Little things have kept him loyal - birthday cards, long-service bonuses and friendships that feel more like family.

For mother-of-four Susanne Watson (49), McDonald’s has always been a great fit. 

Having started as a Crew Member, before becoming Floor Manager and then Shift Manager, she said the restaurant made the logistics of family life possible. 

“McDonald’s has always let me adapt my hours around the children which is very important to me, especially as my son has special needs,” she said. 

“I used to work full time but I’m only working two days a week at present so that I can manage childcare.” 

Now based at Strand Road, Susanne has also worked at Foyleside and Cresent Link at different times.

She’s stayed because the support stretches beyond the shifts. 

“I’ve worked for McDonald’s for a long time because I really enjoy it,” she said. 

Susanne’s two eldest daughters, Naomi (19) and Zara (17), have both also worked at McDonald’s. The eldest now lives in Scotland but Zara is still there part time, when she’s not at college.

“They give employees a lot of support outside of work too,” Susanne added. 

“McDonald’s is a great place to work because they care about their staff."

Moira Deans (50) arrived at Foyleside with hospitality training and a plan to return to college. 

That plan changed; the employer didn’t. 

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She rose from Crew Member to Floor Manager to Shift Manager and discovered a blend of pace and camaraderie that stuck. 

“I got offered a job and I took it,” she said. 

“I had every intention of going back to education, to study travel and tourism, but McDonald’s seemed to grab hold of me. It’s hard work but there’s such an element of fun in what we do. I just never left.” 

She’s been based at Cresent Link for the last 14 years and, before that, she was at Foyleside for 16 years.

The job, she says, has grown with her. 

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“I’ve grown personally and professionally,” she said. “I’ve faced challenges and developed new outlooks. Every day is different. McDonald’s is a good employer. 

“They look after their staff because they appreciate the people who work for them.”