Galway’s Skeffington Arms makes €4m tax settlement

Hotel business appears on tax defaulters’ list after Revenue examination

The Skeffington Arms Hotel, nightclub and bar, on Eyre Square, Galway, has made a €4.13 million settlement with the Revenue Commissioners following an investigation of its affairs.

The company that operates the business had underdeclared corporation tax, PAYE/PRSI, stamp duty and VAT, the investigation found.

The amount of tax underdeclared was €1.8 million and the settlement included interest of €951,744 and a penalty of €1.36 million.

The Skeffington Arms Hotel Ltd is owned by Thomas and Maeve Callanan, of Barna, Galway. The settlement is on a list of tax defaulters published today and which includes the Parnell GAA Club Ltd, of Coolock, Dublin.

The club made a €101,794 settlement arising from the underdeclaration of PAYE/PRSI and arising from a Revenue audit case. The tax involved was €72,435 with the rest comprising interest and penalties.

The largest settlement on the list was made by John Joseph McCarthy, formerly of Flower Lodge, Strawhall, Fermoy, Co Cork, who paid €6.28 million following a Revenue investigation.The retired company director made the settlement arising from the underdeclaration of income tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty.

In all there were 88 settlements listed, for a total value of €27.59 million. Settlements published are for amounts breach certain thresholds and the taxpayer is deemed not to have made a qualifying voluntary disclosure. The list covers settlements between July and September of this year.

Six of the settlements exceeded €1 million. A second business on Eyre Square appears on the list. Corrib House Hotels Ltd made a settlement of €371,892.

  • —

    From maternity leave to remote working: Submit your work-related questions here

  • Listen to Inside Business podcast for a look at business and economics from an Irish perspective

  • Sign up to the Business Today newsletter for the latest new and commentary in your inbox

Colm Keena

Colm Keena

Colm Keena is an Irish Times journalist. He was previously legal-affairs correspondent and public-affairs correspondent