County makes second declaration to Revenue Commissioners after first one rejected

Mayo have made a second voluntary disclosure to the Revenue Commissioners, county board chairman Seamus Tuohy has revealed.

Tuohy informed delegates at Wednesday night’s county convention in Ballina that the disclosure was made in the last week in relation to the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 financial years around “potential tax liabilities on expenses payments made to management, coaching staff, and referees as well as other player costs during those years”.

A previous disclosure of €119,778 was apparently not accepted by Revenue last year though Tuohy said that the county’s finances are “in robust shape to cover any outstanding liabilities that may arise from the engagement with Revenue”, adding that the board “will launch a review of how expenses are claimed and approved in the New Year to prevent similar issues arising in the future”.

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Pointing out that Mayo are not the only county to come across Revenue’s radar of late, Tuohy said that the running of county boards in a voluntary capacity is becoming “unsustainable”.

“The days of running a county board solely with the support of volunteers may be coming to an end,” he told delegates. “It’s something we seriously have to look at. Practically every county board in Ireland now operates a multi-million euro budget, and the demands of serving as a county board officer are becoming unsustainable.

“I think there is a need for more professional support in the running of our county boards, particularly on the commercial side.”

To that end, Tuohy called for the county to appoint a commercial manager as he announced that the county will commence work on a centre of excellence in 2025 in Bohola, which will comprise four playing pitches and various other facilities.

A fundraising drive will kick in next year to help meet the costs of this venture, with a commercial manager required to “drive the project forward, develop new sponsorship opportunities and explore all available grants”.

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