'Gangsta rapper' Dr Dre revamps Clonakilty set-up

BOSTON - APRIL 04: Producer and musician Dr. Dre is on the field before the Boston Red Sox take on the the New York Yankees on April 4, 2010 during Opening Night at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Dre is promoting the Boston Red Sox version of his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Donal O'Donovan

US lawyer Rafferty Atha Jackson has been appointed as a director of one of US rap star Dr Dre's three Clonakilty-based holding companies.

'Gangsta' rapper Dr Dre last year became the latest global media business to establish a base in Ireland by setting up Irish-registered companies despite not having any known operations in this country.

US-based Beats Electronic makes high-end headphones aimed at music fans.

Its Irish-registered companies have no employees, but they do have directors based here.

Unlike Microsoft in Dublin or Apple, which is based in Cork city, Dr Dre opted to base his venture in the rural town of Clonakilty.

According to documents filed with the Companies Office, Beats Electronics Services, Beats Electronics International and Beats Electronics Holding have their registered offices at an accountancy firm in Clonakilty.

The firm, O'Mahony Donnelly, is a director of all three companies.

Dublin accountant David Enright is listed as a director of two of the Irish Beats subsidiaries.

He is also a director of rock band U2's U2 Unlimited company.

San Francisco-based lawyer Rafferty Atha Jackson was appointed a director of Beats Electronics Holdings on May 15, according to documents filed with the Companies Office.