Candor Management Team / Candor Accounting, Audit & Tax Services

Declan Murray FCA

Partner

Declan Murray is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, qualifying in 1987. A graduate of NUIG he was a founding partner of Kelly Murray. With over 20 years’ experience in practice dealing with the accounting, audit, taxation and business consulting needs of our clients. Declan has encountered most situations that present to the small and medium sector.

His main responsibilities today are in a business advisory role which involves restructuring, taxation planning, business plans and due diligence assignments. The focus today is dealing with the formidable challenges facing our clients’ businesses and he has handled many negotiations with Revenue, banks and other creditors.

Patrick Donnellan FCA

Partner

Patrick Donnellan, a native of Galway has built up an extensive range of experience in finance and accountancy over the past 20 years. Having served his accountancy apprenticeship in Ireland’s largest Irish owned firm, FGS in Dublin, Patrick went on to hold a variety of financial roles from private equity to banking before returning to practice to put this experience to use for his clients.

Patrick advises clients on all aspects of business from start up through to retirement with the aim to maximise opportunities while minimising risk over the long term resulting in continued growth in wealth. In 2013 Patrick purchased Casserly & Co, a Galway based accountancy practice, to form Donnellan Casserly. The client base grew significantly and in 2017 the firm merged with Kelly Murray to form Candor. Patrick lives in Salthill, Galway with his wife Sally and three kids Paddy, Tom and Ruby. They spend their weekends at the pool and playgrounds and enjoy watching Connacht Rugby in the Sportsground.

George Taylor FCCA

Partner

George has over 25 years of experience working in practice and enjoys helping small and medium-size business owners to manage and grow their businesses. George provides his clients with expert advice, professionalism and peace of mind. He manages our compliance teams in providing clients with the necessary services to meet their tax and accounting needs.

Mary Flynn FCA, CTA

Head of Tax and Business Advisory

Mary runs our Tax and Business Advisory department and joined the practice in 1999. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). Mary has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in a range of sectors. Mary provides advice on personal and corporate tax matters, with a particular focus on domestic owner managed businesses and property portfolio investors.

Mary has recently successfully completed an Advanced Corporation Tax Certificate with the Institute of Taxation, with a view to assisting domestic corporate clients to avail of opportunities to grow their businesses internationally, through the use of appropriate structures in other jurisdictions. She manages an extensive portfolio of clients, working with the Audit and Accounting division, to provide clients with advice on Financial, Taxation, Commercial and Management issues in their personal and business affairs. Mary considers her single biggest strength to be her ability to work with clients at all levels and across different industries to get the job done to the highest standard in a timely and efficient manner. Mary is a native Galwegian (with a brief spell spent as a honorary Mayo resident) and outside of work is a lifelong Galway hurling supporter and follower of all things GAA related.

Jane Mangan FCCA

Manager - Audit & Advisory

Jane was founding director of Connacht Accountancy building it up to one of the top firms in Galway city. Jane merged Connacht Accountancy with Candor in April 2022. Jane is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and serves as a member of the ACCA Ireland committee.

Originally from the north coast of Ireland, Jane trained and qualified in Belfast and has over 30 years experience in general accountancy practice. Jane's ethos is that good communication and reliability is at the core of great accountancy service. Jane participates in triathalons in her spare her time along with her husband and children.

Mary McDonnell CTA

Manager - Tax

Mary joined Candor in 2022 as a Tax Consultant. She is a member of the Irish Taxation Institute and is a registered Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). With in excess of 30 years’ experience in practice, she advises clients on a wide range of business and tax related issues, such as advice on personal and capital tax matters.

Prior to arriving in Galway Mary spent 10 years working with BDO in Dublin. Since then, she has further expanded her knowledge base and skills through her senior management roles with leading Galway firms. In 2016, Mary set up her own Tax Consultancy practice. This has given her the flexibility to pursue other avenues, in particular the opportunity to tutor and lecture Masters and undergraduate students in NUIG.

Sarah Costello ACCA

Manager - Audit & Advisory

Sarah, originally from Roscommon, joined the practice as a trainee accountant in 2006 having obtained a Batchelors of Business Studies with Accountancy at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. She completed her professional accountancy exams with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in 2010.

Sarah has over 15 years of experience dealing with a varied portfolio of clients with whom she has built a positive working relationship with. She is active in in the mentoring and training of our trainee accountants by setting milestones and ensuring that they receive the necessary work experience to meet these milestones. Specialist Experience: • Audit of Charities/not for profit organisations (specialises in Charities SORP) • Audit of large construction companies • Preparation of monthly management accounts for several clients • Preparation of reports for regulated bodies such as solicitors and auctioneers • Hotel/Hospitality sector accounts preparation • Income tax returns preparation • Medical device – spent some time at one of Galway’s leading medical device companies as a GL accountant at a local and group level Interests outside of work: • Sarah helps out with her son’s soccer team • Enjoys cooking, baking and making the trips back home to Roscommon to hang out with family and friends

Myles Upton ACA

Manager - Advisory & Accounting

Myles, has been working in Candor since 2014. A member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a graduate of NUI Galway with a Bachelors degree in Commerce. Myles specialises in the implementation of new systems, management accounts and performance analysis.

A native of Galway, Myles never felt there was a reason to leave when he found his passion for accounting . A keen player of rugby and other sports, Myles spends his free time training and playing matches. The office social butterfly, Myles organises all office outings.

Noreen Cullinan ACCA

Manager - Advisory & Accounting

Born and reared in Galway, Noreen has been with Candor for 14 years after joining in August 2007. She is a qualified member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accounts (ACCA) and specialises in SMEs and solicitors report along with keeping busy dealing with day to day queries from clients.

She enjoys the diversity of clients operating in many different industries and the excitement of working on all aspects of finance in Candor. Noreen is an avid runner, she also finds time to coach the local GAA club and of course is most often busy taxing her children to their many hobbies. Luckily Candor is super flexible with working and provides her the opportunity to do so. Her love of book-keeping and maths started from a young age at school where her career guidance saw potential and advised her to pursue the career in accountancy.

Hilary Moloney ACCA

Manager - Advisory & Accounting

Hilary is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with over 20 years experience working with both sole trade and corporate clients across a range of SMEs. Hilary specialises in assisting clients with accounts preparation, tax returns plus payroll and is an expert in utilising a range of accounting software programmes.

Una Meehan ACCA

Manager - Advisory & Accounting

Una is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) for many years and is a proud graduate of GMIT, now ATU. Having originally trained in practice, she returned to her favourite sector just over 15 years ago after gaining extensive experience in the health and education sectors.

Una uses her expertise to provide her broad portfolio of clients with all compliance services as well as management accounts. She takes great pride in the level of service she delivers to her clients, assisting clients navigate constant filing deadlines. She also supports clients with queries as they arise along with up to date information in a constantly changing compliance environment. Outside of work and family time, Una always enjoyed gardening but has found a new passion after taking up hockey in recent years.

Lorraine O'Hara BA, Cert Co. Sec Law

Senior Office Administrator & Company Secretarial

Lorraine manages our Company Secretarial function and has been a member of the “Candor” family since 1998. Coming from GMIT with a degree in Accounting, her starting role was one of that as PA to one of the Partners. One of her first jobs involved issuing BES shares in a private company and it’s from there that her love of all things Company Secretarial grew. Lorraine obtained her love of figures from her Math’s teacher in secondary school, who saw her potential in problem solving and so the route of Accounting was pursued.

In the last 23 years Lorraine has touched on all aspects of Accounting in the company, from formations, to VAT returns, payroll, auditing and voluntary strike offs. Her role currently is to manage the office ensuring both clients and staff are well looked after, and if she can’t look after them, she will always direct them in the right direction. She also runs the Company Secretarial department and only last year updated her qualifications by obtaining a Certificate in Secretarial Law and Practice with The Law Society. Lorraine is a Galway City girl but has now planted her roots in Athenry. She is very much a community person and has volunteered in the local GAA club and is currently involved in the new Basketball Club in the area acting as Treasurer, Ladies Captain and Coach to the Under 12 girls’ team. Lorraine is very much a family person and lucky to have her parents and siblings all living in Galway and sees Candor very much as an extension of her family, who have seen her through her various stages in life.

Alice White ACCA

Senior Accountant

Alice, originally from the banner county of Clare, has lived in Galway since 2012. She joined Candor in July 2017 after completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting in GMIT and qualified as Chartered Certified Accountant with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants in 2023.

Inspired by the many accountants in her family, she decided to follow in their footsteps. Alice loves working with numbers and the story they tell of a business. She understands the importance of the different aspects of accounting and enjoys the variety of the work. Additionally, she is excited about the opportunities available with a career in accountancy, which lead her to Candor. Every day is enjoyable and different due to the diverse range of clients, industries and variety of work that comes with working in practice. Alice, enraptured by Galway, often remarks that it is her home away from home because of the friendliness and vibrancy of the city. When she isn’t reading company accounts, Alice is reading novels of all genres. She also loves the fresh air and going for walks in the city and travelling further afield discovering new scenery and cultures.

Taziana Fries ACA

Senior Accountant

Taziana graduated from GMIT (currently ATU) in 2017 with Honours in Accounting and completed her final exams with Chartered Accountants Ireland in 2020. She completed her training in Galway City and joined Candor in 2022 as a member of the audit team.

A Galway native, Taziana enjoys discovering other parts of the country with her binoculars in tow for a spot of birdwatching. When not outdoors she enjoys arts and crafts, scary movies and has recently embarked on a journey to begin learning German.

Sean Geraghty ACA

Senior Accountant

Sean, from Tuam, Co. Galway, joined Candor in February 2024 as a Senior Accountant after completing his professional training with Deacy Gilligan, a Galway City firm. Sean is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland since 2023, and is a graduate from the University of Galway with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce

Megan Byrne

Part Qualified Accountant

Originally from Duniry, Co. Galway, Megan joined Candor in July 2021 as a Trainee Accountant. Megan graduated from GMIT with a First Class Honours Bachelor of Business with Accounting degree. Megan recently completed her final Association of Certified Chartered Accountants exam and will be a fully qualified accountant in July 2024 when her training contract is complete.

Megan is also looking forward to discovering her specialist area of interest. For now, Megan is involved in all aspects of accounts preparation, audit and taxation. In school, Megan was inspired by her teachers who nurtured her passion for accounting and business. They recognised in Megan the perfect accountant – good with numbers and even better with people! Megan loves spending her downtime in the fresh air. She is enthusiastic about walking and hiking, appreciating the beauty of Ireland from the peaks. She also is a competent traditional music player having completed in Fleadh Ceoils, won Connaught titles and competed in the All Ireland Championships playing piano.

Aoife Loftus

Part Qualified Accountant

Originally from Tuam, Co. Galway, Aoife joined Candor in September 2023 as a Part Qualified Accountant. Aoife graduated from the University of Galway with an Honours Bachelor of Arts and completed a Postgraduate degree in Accounting achieving First Class Honours. Aoife has one final exam to complete before qualifying with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

Aoife Burke

Trainee Accountant

Originally from Tubber, Co. Clare, Aoife joined Candor in July 2022 as a Trainee Accountant. Aoife completed the Accounting Technician Institute qualification in 2021 prior to commencing her exams with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

Patrick Connolly

Trainee Accountant

Patrick, from the village of Cong, Co. Mayo, joined Candor in 2023 after graduating from ATU with an Bachelors Degree in Accountancy. He is continuing his journey to qualification with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Robert Clifford

Trainee Accountant

Robert, from Knocknacarra in Galway, joined Candor in 2023. With a Bachelor’s in Binance from University of Galway, he is continuing his academic career with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

Rachael Tuffy

Trainee Accountant

Rachael , from Athenry in Galway, joined Candor in 2023. With a Bachelor of Business in Accounting from Atlantic Technological University, she is continuing her academic career with the Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Angela Olawoye ATI

Accounts Assistant

Angela is a qualified Accounting Technician and is studying to complete her Association of Certified Chartered Accountants exams. She is originally from Nigeria where she acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Upon her arrival in Ireland, she picked up an interest in accounting and studied with Accounting Technicians Ireland. Angela assists clients with all aspects of bookkeeping including Vat Returns, Payroll, Income tax and general bookkeeping services.

She is proficient in the use of several accounting and payroll software systems. In her spare time, she loves to hang out with her family. She is a member of her church choir and the Ignite Gospel Choir Galway.

Agnes Walach ATI

Accounts Assistant

Agnes obtained her Master’s Degree in Economics in Cracow in Poland. She worked for 2 years in Ernst & Young in Poland and prior to moving to Ireland in 2005. She has completed her qualification from Accounting Technicians Ireland and worked for Connacht Accountancy from 2014.

Agnes enjoys travelling especially to Spain to learn Spanish, meet friends and walk with her three daughters. She is a talented baker and makes artistic cakes for family and close friends. Agnes is creative and loves DIY projects at home and always has a project to work on. Some of her prouder projects include designing and constructing a doll house for her children as well as many pieces of furniture for her home.

Margaret Cullen

Administrator

Margaret is our Receptionist/Secretary and has been part of the Candor team since 2017. She looks after client appointments and office administration and provides essential office support to all our staff. She previously worked in Bank of Ireland for 20 years and has significant experience in the areas of commercial and personal lending and client facing services. She took time out to look after her family and retuned to work with Candor 5 years ago. Margaret has a keen interest in sport especially golf and badminton. She is very sociable and loves to meet her friends for a walk and coffee and is known to be a whiz at playing bridge.

Cathy Lydon

Administrator

Cathy joined Candor in January 2023 as our Receptionist. Cathy has worked in various roles from starting her first job in Roches Stores in the 1980’s to the highlight of her career to date with Volvo Ocean Race, Galway in 2012.

A true Galway Girl she loves walks by the sea. Meeting friends for coffee and shopping trips. Loves to travel but not as often as she would like to. Italy is next on her list to see. She has volunteered as a fundraiser for the Galway Rape Crisis centre over the years and for Special Olympics Ireland. A past active member of Network Galway where she assisted on the Network Galway awards event and a member of BPW Galway. In her past roles she was the social club secretary and helped organise trips to the Galway Races , Corrib Princess, and other entertaining events for her colleagues.