Cahersiveen man’s firm tops Kerry rich list

‘J MURPHY AND SONS’ AT NUMBER 29 IN IRISH RICH LIST

THE Murphy family from Cahersiveen are the richest Kerry family according to the Sunday Independent’s Rich List.

John Murphy, who is the founder of North London-based construction company J Murphy and Sons, is number 29 on the Irish Rich List.

The company, which began clearing-out blitz sites after the War, is now involved in building tunnels, railways, bridges, pipelines, and water projects across the UK and in Ireland.

John Snr, who was from Loughmark near Cahersiveen, died in 2009 at the age of 95, and the company is now run by his grandson, John Paul.

Their wealth is estimated at €550m according to the Sunday Independent Rich List, published last weekend.

Also with Kerry connections on the Rich List and at number 43 on the list is Brian McCarthy and family, who built Fexco. Their wealth is estimated at €452m. Fexco employs 2,500 people in 29 countries. Its headquarters are in Killorglin, and in recent weeks the company expanded the business with the opening of a new R&D hub just outside Killorglin.

Brian’s son, Denis and John, now own a shareholding in the company, and the sale of Goodbody Stockbrokers in January last year netted the McCarthys an estimated €54m.

In another link with Fexco, former senior executive at the company, Frank Murphy, is also on the Rich List.

He founded Monex, which is based in Killarney and which boasts clients such as Ryanair, Hertz, and Bank of China. In 2018, the company reported revenues of €113.4m.

Mr Murphy’s wealth is said to be €123m. Another Kerry man on the list is Colm O’Shea. He is the founding partner of fund manager Comac Capital, based in London’s exclusive Mayfair.

In 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked O’Shea’s fund the 21st largest fund in the world.

His wealth is estimated at €106m.

Number 199 on the Rich List is Kerry man Maurice Regan, whose father, also Maurice, hailed from Listowel.

Maurice is the founder of JT Magen, a major construction company in the US, and is a major sponsor of Kerry GAA including the Dr Crokes club in Killarney. His fortune is said to be €86m.

Jerry Kennelly, who lives in Caragh Lake and is part of the Kennelly family in Tralee, is number 235 on the Rich List.

The entrepreneur sold his photo archive company Stockbyte for €110m.

Martin Naughton, owner of Glen Dimplex is estimated to be worth $1.75bn and stands at number 14 on the Rich List.

He has invested some of his funds in Kerry with a share in the Park Hotel in Kenmare with John and Francis Brennan.

Photo by Valerie O’Sullivan Family ties: founder of Fexco, Brian McCarthy, with wife, Mary McCarthy; son, Fexco CEO Denis McCarthy; John McCarthy; daughters, Liz McCarthy and (sitting) Susan McCarthy, back row, left; and Ruth McCarthy. They were at the official opening last week of Fexco’s new building in Killorglin, which will house its own research development and innovation centre, and RDI Hub – a centre for digital innovation backed by Fexco, IT Tralee and Kerry County Council. The McCarthy family is at number 43 on the Sunday Independent Irish Rich List.

Frank Murphy, Monex