The 2 Johnnies' profits surge to €453,682 in wake of 'GAA catfish' podcast episodes

Post-tax profits at Big Ball Small Ball Productions Ltd increased by 68% to €453,682 for the year to the end of April 2024

The popularity of the podcast produced by The 2 Johnnies — Johnny Smacks McMahon and Johnny B O'Brien — has soared, with their recent ‘GAA Catfish’ episodes achieving global reach. Picture: Ruth Medjber

‘GAA catfish’ sensation podcast hosts and former 2FM presenters, The 2 Johnnies are laughing all the way to the bank after sharing directors’ pay of almost €500,000 at their firm last year.

In a bumper year for the two comedians Johnny Smacks McMahon and Johnny B O'Brien, accounts show that post-tax profits at the pair’s Big Ball Small Ball Productions Ltd increased by 68% to €453,682 for the 12 months to the end of April last.

Only a few weeks after the end of the company’s financial year, the two announced their shock departure from 2FM as afternoon hosts.

Since then the 2 Johnnies’s podcast popularity has soared with its recent ‘GAA Catfish’ episodes achieving global popularity — the podcast enjoyed over two million streams across the globe over four days last month.

The profits of €453,682 for last year are a 68% increase in the €269,533 profits for the prior 12 months.

The profits for last year resulted in the company — owned and controlled by 2 Johnnies, John O’Brien and Jonathon McMahon — sitting on accumulated profits of €857,205 at the end of April last.

During their time at 2FM, the Co Tipperary two increased their audience to 150,000 making it the most listened to show on 2FM at the time.

Pay to the two last year increased by €374,183 to €405,543 while the firm paid an additional €79,904 to the directors in pension contributions.

The firm employs four in total including The 2 Johnnies and wages and salaries for the four totalled €568,175 that included the €79,904 in pension contributions.

The buoyant year for the firm also saw the company’s cash funds almost doubling from €327,066 to €618,026.

The value of the company's tangible assets increased from €47,250 to €205,247.

During the year under review, The 2 Johnnies recorded a box office of €702,170 for their gig at the 3Arena in December 2023 when 12,791 fans paid out to see the two.

Box office receipts are shared between performer, promoter, ticket seller and venue operator.

The two added to their coffers last Summer with a series of dates in Dublin and the US.

The 2 Johnnies Podcast hosted ‘Two Pints in a Field’ at St Anne’s Park, Raheny on June 8 in 2024. The two are looking to repeat the success of last year with Pints In A Field 3 returning to St Anne's Park Dublin on June 7 this year with The 2 Johnnies and The Junior B All Stars with special guests Vengaboys and Basshunter.

The pair also brought their The 2 Johnnies podcast World Tour 2024 to San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, and New York City last year before bringing the show to Australia last August for a number of city dates that included Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

The two also added to The 2 Johnnies revenues with the sales of books, merchandise, and music.