THE NATIONAL Concert Hall saw its profit before tax increase by 50 per cent to €277,990 in 2011, its 30th anniversary year, as it hosted a record 967 events.

Gross income declined by 6.7 per cent to €4.2 million, but a decrease in expenses led to a positive outcome for the year, reflecting “a very strong management performance”.

Audiences totalled 293,639, marginally below the previous year’s attendance figure, while box office sales were, in the words of the venue’s accounts, “very buoyant” at €6.5 million.

The National Concert Hall received government grant aid of €2.6 million in 2011, down from €2.9 million in 2010.

During the year it set up a capital redevelopment reserve to fund future redevelopment costs and transferred its entire profit of €277,990 to this fund.

The surplus on the venue’s profit and loss account amounted to €1,916,342 at the end of 2011, the same as at the end of 2010.

Employment was largely flat at the venue during 2011, at 110, down by two people on the 2010 figure. There was a dip in wage costs, down by 9 per cent from the previous year to €2.7 million.

Former chairman David Byrne resigned during the year, receiving a payment of €3,938. His replacement Kieran Tobin, Irish Distillers communications and corporate affairs director, took on the role in September and was paid €3,150. The combined chairman’s payment for 2011 was €7,088, down from €9,450 in 2010. Chief executive Simon Taylor received a salary of €35,890 in 2011, having joined the venue in September last year.