It is being widely reported in the media that iconic Dublin restaurant Shanahan’s on the Green has been closed until further notice.
According to The Irish Times, in recent days, John M. Shanahan, owner of the restaurant, circulated a notice that informed employees and suppliers that the company was in an ‘alarming, almost impossible situation.’
The notice referenced a meeting with the Revenue Commissioners regarding the repayment of tax debts dating back to the Covid pandemic. However, Shanahan stated confidence in resolving ‘this matter quickly’.
Set in an eighteenth-century Georgian townhouse overlooking St Stephen’s Green, in Dublin 2, the restaurant is renowned for offering an authentic American-style steakhouse experience in the heart of Dublin.
It became one of the most popular high-class dining establishments in the city and frequently welcomed many well-known personalities, such as Bill Clinton, Bertie Ahern and Gerry Ryan.
The success of the restaurant was a reflection of its founder, Shanahan, an American entrepreneur who maintains dual citizenship in Ireland and the United States. At Shanahan’s on the Green, he brought together his love of cooking and gourmet fare with his passion for Ireland. The businessman wanted to give patrons the ‘pleasures of American fine dining with the flair of the Irish’, transporting them to ‘the best of home’, irrespective of what side of the Atlantic they came.
In the restaurant’s downstairs bar, the Oval Office, original historical documents and mementoes from each of America’s presidents of Irish heritage were on display for visitors, including a rocking chair owned by John F. Kennedy.
In 1998, Shanahan and his family took over No. 119 St Stephen’s Green and began a long refurbishment process. The building was returned to its original Georgian splendour.
At the present time, Shanahan’s on the Green is no longer taking bookings.
