Laughter and magic boost stars’ profits

A mix of laughter and magic swelled the coffers of two of Ireland’s best known entertainers last year.

Accumulated profits at comedian Jason Byrne’s entertainment firm increased from €312,069 to €315,971 in the 12 months to the end of December last.

Separate figures lodged by magician Keith Barry’s firm show the cash pile at his Marstock Entertainment last year rose from €143,616 to €173,398.

Dubliner Byrne’s career this year received a boost with the BBC screening a sitcom Father Figure that he penned and starred in.

The figures show that while profits increased at his entertainment firm, Jason Byrne Entertainment Ltd last year, his cash pile slumped from €298,521 to €200,000.

The 41-year is currently adding to his firm’s coffers currently touring England with dates in Northern Ireland and the Republic next month, January, February and March.

In the past, Byrne has been nominated for the prestigious Perrier comedy award at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and in a recent interview, Byrne said: “When I’m on stage, it’s like I have some sort of superpower.”

The separate figures lodged by Barry’s Marstock Entertainment Ltd show that he worked his own brand of magic to increase profits at the firm last year.

The figures show that accumulated figures at the company increased from €95,887 to €97,864 in the 12 months to the end of December last.

Barry’s firm increased its revenues last year with the Co Waterford magician carrying out extensive touring of his 8 Deadly Sins show in Ireland and took his Brain Hacker tour to Australia and New Zealand.