THE combined wealth of the 10 richest Irish families more than doubled to €53 billion (£44bn) in the past decade, according to a new list.
The Indian-Irish Mistry family, which owns the largest stake in Mumbai-based conglomerate Tata, topped the Sunday Independent's list with €13.8bn (£11.5bn), more than three times the €4.4bn it topped the same list with in 2010.
That top-10 list in 2010 still included Fermanagh businessman Sean Quinn. A decade on, Armagh woman Freddie Linnet is ranked the wealthiest person from the north on the list. Along with her cousin Hugh Murphy and his wife Mary, she own the majority of the Leicester-based property group Charles Street. They are worth an estimated €915m (£760m).
The firm dates back to the 1930s, when six brothers left south Armagh for England. Ms Linnett, who inherited her 25 per cent share of the group, comes at in 23rd in the list, just ahead of Belfast-born Brexit enthusiast Tim Martin.
The 64-year-old founder of the JD Wetherspoon pub chain benefited from a surge in his company's share price last year. He is now worth an estimated €641m (£557m), putting him at 26 in the list.
The family of the late Co Down entrepreneur Edward Haughey saw their wealth increase by €30m (£25m) to €528m (£438m) last year. The family retains a sizeable share of pharmaceutical firm Norbrook. They came in at 32, just ahead of Belfast developer Kevin Lagan, who is now worth an estimated £526m (437m).
Media entrepreneur Roma Downey is Derry's wealthiest person, according to the Sunday Independent. Now worth an estimated €446m (£370m), along with husband Mark Burnett, she is preparing to launch a new paid streaming service for faith-based viewers in the US.
Other high fliers include Belfast-born property magnate Paddy McKillen, worth €395m (£328m) and the family of Co Down pharmacist Tom Eakin, which owns medical supply firm TG Eakin. They are now worth an estimated €389m (£323m).
The first entrant from Co Tyrone comes in at 146, in the guise of brothers Jim and Jack Dobson, who own Dungannon-based meat firm Dunbia. A 2017 merger with Dawn Meats left their combined wealth at €118m (£100m).
