Katie Melua is on the Irish list of richest people 30 and under

Sam Morrison's firm Corbo Ltd has thrived thanks to Northern Ireland's property boom, the paper said.

It "conservatively" estimated his fortune at �350m, putting him joint 214th overall and 26th on the Irish list.

County Fermanagh entrepreneur Sean Quinn and family remain second on the Irish list, with a fortune of �3,050m.

They are joint 12th on the overall list, with interests including property, quarrying and insurance.

The paper says property prices are one reason why County Antrim brothers Kevin and Michael Lagan have leapt up the Irish list from 47th to eighth with a fortune of �928m.

IRELAND'S RICH LIST Hilary Weston and family (retailing): �4,089m Sean Quinn and family (quarrying, property and insurance): �3,050m Sir Anthony and Lady O'Reilly (food, media and inheritance): �1,672m Denis O'Brien (mobile phones and investment): �1,493m Dermot Desmond (finance: �1,400m John Dorrance (inheritance): �1,390m Tony Ryan and family (airline): �1,010m Kevin and Michael Lagan (civil engineering): �928m John Magnier (bloodstock and property): �723m

Their firm Lagan Holdings is set for a �50m profit in 2006-2007, according to the paper.

Gerard O'Hare, who via Parker Green International owns the �120m Quays shopping and leisure complex in Newry, has commercial property assets of �308m, putting him 28th on the paper's Irish list.

The paper attributes Northern Ireland house price rises to Londonderry-based builders Taggart Homes doubling its value, giving its owners John and Michael Taggart a value of �115m.

A veteran of the list, Eddie Irvine has invested wisely following his �40m Formula One career, and the paper says he has �150m, including a motor yacht, international properties and a number of Dublin bars.

However, it has cut his worth by �10m from last year because of the stalling US property market.

Singer Van Morrison is joint 173rd on the Irish list and the fourth richest Irish entertainer with a �51m fortune.

The paper says Michael Flatley has a �377m fortune

Katie Melua may be some way off this sort of cash, but with �8m in earnings, the 22-year-old is joint 15th on the paper's list of the richest Irish people aged 30 and under.

The singer moved from the former Soviet republic of Georgia to Belfast at the age of eight when her father got a job as a surgeon at the Royal Group of Hospitals.

U2 are the richest Irish entertainers, but their �487m fortune only puts them 20th on the Irish list.

Second and third are self-styled Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley, worth �377m, and singer Enya who has �77m.

They all have some way to go to catch Hilary Weston and family, whose �4,089m wealth puts them top of the Irish list.