O’Driscoll’s firm makes €2.9m profit

The cash pile at the main firm owned by one of Ireland’s greatest sports stars increased to €1.46m last year.

Accounts filed by Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll’s ODM and Promotions Ltd show profits increased by €291,409 last year, from €2.54m to €2.88m.

ODM’s cash pile increased by €326,186, from €1.13m to €1.45m, in the 12 months to Aug 31 last.

O’Driscoll established the firm in 2001, when he was 22, as part of his bid to capitalise on being the most marketable Irish player of the modern rugby era.

His father Frank is also a director of the firm.

Last year, O’Driscoll signed an extension to his IRFU contract to next June believed to be worth around a basic €400,000 per annum. O’Driscoll is able to top up his earnings with various sponsorship deals and endorsements, one of which is with Gillette.

Earlier this year, he signed a deal with Penguin Ireland for his autobiography, with award-winning author Paul Kimmage signed up to ghostwrite it.

However, the much-anticipated book is not due to the published until after the 33-year old retires, and the Clontarf man has given no date for when that will happen.

In addition to the cash in bank, the accounts show that the amounts owed by debtors to the firm decreased from €613,253 to €534,128 during the year.

O’Driscoll has had an illustrious career — captaining Ireland to a Grand Slam and winning four Triple Crowns in the Six Nations, and captaining the Lions in New Zealand, along with winning three Heineken Cups with Leinster.

The Dubliner was also voted World Rugby player of the decade (2000-09) by the influential magazine Rugby World.