Tyrone’s ‘Rich List’ swells by £6m

The county may have been hard hit by the sharp decline in the construction industry but there is still a lot of money around.

The newly published rich list shows you just need to know where to look for it.

In fact some of Tyrone’s wealthiest people have become even richer in the past year.

Although his wealth is spiralling the wrong way, Cookstown’s Barney Eastwood is ranked as Tyrone’s richest person, with a personal wealth estimated at £87, down £7m from last year.

Here’s the guide to who are Tyrone’s richest people — and how they’ve earned their millions.

5: DARREN CLARKE

A new entrant on the rich list, is former Dungannon man Darren Clarke, winner of this year’s British Open.

His fortune has risen £800,000 to £18m, making him the 300th wealthiest person in Ireland, and last on the list.

4: SEAMUS McALEER

McAleer’s construction company has emerged from the doldrums of the property market collapse with a valuation at £40m, up £3m. The building contractor has completed a number of major UK projects, and is now ranked 33rd on Northern Ireland’s rich list.

3: WAYNE ACHESON

With a fortune of £41m, up £3m in the past year, Sandholes man Wayne Acheson controls Derry’s Foyle Food Group. The company’s business has enjoyed a boom in the export of meat. He is now placed at 32 in the Northern Ireland rich list.

2: JIM & JACK DOBSON

Cattle-dealing brothers Jim and Jack decided to buy a butcher shop in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in 1980. The business expanded rapidly and now their Dunbia group is one of the country’s largest meat processors. Their personal wealth is estimated at £87m, down £880,000. They are ranked at number 17 on the Northern Ireland rich list.

1: BARNEY EASTWOOD

Cookstown-born Eastwood is best known as the promoter of the ‘Clones Cyclone’ Barry McGuigan, but he was also a bookie - and a big one at that. In 2008, Ladbrokes paid £115m to buy his Eastwood bookmaking chain.

This year he is Tyrone’s richest person even though his personal fortune fell by £7m to £87m.

Last year Eastwood was number 11 on the Northern Ireland rich list but has slipped to 16th place this year.