Irish-owned Supermac's has lodged a submission with the European Union Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, after McDonald's lodged an objection against the company.

Supermac's wants to have its company name trademark registered across the EU.

The company opened its first restaurant in Ballinasloe in 1978.

McDonald's objection is based on the contention that the name 'Supermac's' is similar to the name McDonald's, which may cause confusion for consumers if the Irish chain opens restaurants in other European counties.

The international fast food giant has taken the objection in an effort to prevent the family restaurant chain from expanding outside Ireland.

Supermac's managing director Pat McDonagh travelled to Alicante to personally deliver the submission.

Supermac's is the largest Irish indigenous quick service restaurant group with a policy of continued expansion and growth, it says.

The company say the name Supermac's was derived from Mr McDonagh's nickname "SUPERMAC" given to him in the late 1960s during his football playing days with the Carmelite College in Moate.

Mr McDonagh said he is "confident that the true facts of Supermac's case have been presented clearly".

Supermac's says it already has an extensive reputation abroad.

The company also created a giant snack box as part of a billboard advertising campaign in Times Square, New York and last year branded a double decker London bus on key landmark London city routes.