www.bbc.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.0.81  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

LET US KNOW YOU AGREE TO COOKIES

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Please let us know if you
agree to all of these cookies.

Yes, I agree

No, take me to settings

BBC Homepage
 * Skip to content
 * Accessibility Help

 * Sign in


 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * More menu

More menu
Search BBC
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * Culture
 * Music
 * TV
 * Weather
 * Sounds

Close menu
BBC News
Menu
 * Home
 * War in Ukraine
 * Coronavirus
 * Climate
 * Video
 * World
 * UK
 * Business
 * Tech
 * Science
 * Stories

More
 * Entertainment & Arts
 * Health
 * World News TV
 * In Pictures
 * Reality Check
 * Newsbeat
 * Long Reads

 * N. Ireland
 * N. Ireland Politics


EUROMILLIONS NI COUPLE HAVE GIVEN AWAY 'HALF' OF WINNINGS

Published8 December 2020
Share
close
Share page
Copy link
About sharing
Image source, Pacemaker
Image caption,
Frances and Patrick Connolly wrote a list of 50 friends and family members who
they wanted to help

A Northern Ireland couple who won £115m in the EuroMillions lottery two years
ago have already given away more than half to loved ones, charity and those in
need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Frances and Patrick Connolly have handed out £60m since their jackpot in the
2019 New Year's Day draw.

It was the biggest ever EuroMillions win in NI.

National Lottery operator Camelot said it was one of the biggest giveaways it
has seen.

The couple from Moira, County Down, wrote a list of 50 friends and family
members who they wanted to help.

Since then they have extended their generosity in various ways, including
setting up two charitable foundations - the Kathleen Graham Trust in Northern
Ireland, named after Frances' mother, and the PFC Trust in County Durham, where
they now live.


Image source, PA/Nigel Roddis
Image caption,
Frances Connolly said the last two years had been "a total joyride"

Other good deeds include buying gifts for 1,000 pensioners who will be in
hospital on Christmas Day and purchasing hundreds of electronic tablets so
elderly care home residents can video call their families.

They have also paid for a young refugee boy to continue to travel to his
secondary school for the rest of his education.

Mrs Connolly described the last two years as an "absolutely manic whirlwind and
a total, total joyride from start to finish".

She said they were speaking out now to draw attention to the charitable work
being done by so many at the end of a challenging year.

"People need to be celebrated," she said.

"Not me, not by any stretch of the imagination, but by me talking I could draw
attention to the fact that, actually, we're a nation of heroes here."




TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC

Following their big win, their list of family and friends to help included their
daughters, Mrs Connolly's three sisters and two brothers and Mr Connolly's three
sisters.

They also gave all their nieces and nephews money to buy their own homes.

This year much of their focus has been on helping those on the Covid-19
frontline.

Mrs Connolly bought new sewing machines for a group in NI when she heard they
were making personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers.

Mr Connolly, who owns a number of plastics manufacturing factories, also
arranged for supplies for a charity that was using 3D printers to make visors.

Back in Northern Ireland, the couple funded hot meal deliveries, £50 thank you
vouchers for 150 front-line workers, provided laptops for vulnerable secondary
school pupils to distance learn, contributed to a befriending service for those
living alone and helped with a teddy bear's picnic for 400 families.




'NO NEED TO BE FLASH'

Meanwhile the couple, who famously celebrated their win with a cup of tea, have
resisted the jet-set lifestyle of new millionaires.

They now live in a five-bedroom bungalow in County Durham - albeit with a tennis
court and a swimming pool - but this was a more modest option compared to the
castle and 15-bed stately home, complete with its own village, that were offered
to them.

When visiting their daughter in New Zealand, they choose not to fly first class
- settling for business class instead - reasoning that the cost could help a
young couple to pay off a mortgage.

Mr Connolly has chosen to continue to work while Mrs Connolly, who formerly
worked in education and now runs their charities, recently treated herself to a
brand new car, an E-Pace Jaguar, but said she only bought it new because she
could not find a second-hand electric vehicle.

"We've no need for supercars and I'm so proud that our daughters also drive
second-hand cars," she said.

"It's something that does the job and there's no need to be flash."


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * Lotto jackpot couple to give millions away
   
   4 January 2019
   

 * Moira couple win 'massive' lottery prize
   
   4 January 2019
   


RELATED TOPICS

 * National Lottery
 * Moira
 * Durham





TOP STORIES

 * Live. 
   
   Fighting rages on day 100 of Russian war in Ukraine

 * Russian TV: 100 days of the war on Ukraine. VideoRussian TV: 100 days of the
   war on Ukraine
   
   Published7 hours ago

 * Kyiv’s emergence from the shadow of war
   
   Published2 hours ago




FEATURES

 * Five ways Russia’s war in Ukraine may play out
   
   

 * The Russian soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine
   
   

 * Prince Harry and Meghan remain low-key at Jubilee
   
   
 * 

 * Platinum Jubilee: Queen's life in pictures
   
   

 * Man makes custom caskets for kids killed in Texas. VideoMan makes custom
   caskets for kids killed in Texas
   
   

 * Why this much-loved Singapore dish is under threat
   
   

 * The 'oversized potatoes' that stole the Queen's heart
   
   

 * Africa's top shots: Relics, rituals and rollerblades
   
   

 * Weekly quiz: Whatever happened to the Mona Lisa?
   
   




ELSEWHERE ON THE BBC

 * The incredible change the Queen has seen
   
   The social, political, scientific and technological shifts during the Queen's
   70 years on the throne.
   
   

 * Power dressing: The Queen's unique style
   
   The most photographed woman in history has developed a powerful and iconic
   style.
   
   

 * LISTEN: The secrets to playing the Queen
   
   Find out how these actresses portrayed the world's most recognised woman on
   radio, stage and screen.
   
   




MOST READ

 1.  1Queen pulls out of Jubilee thanksgiving service
 2.  2Prince Harry and Meghan remain low-key at Jubilee
 3.  3Viral video shows India woman risking life for water
 4.  4Johnny Depp starts new chapter at Gateshead gig
 5.  5Turkey changes its name in rebranding bid
 6.  6Kyiv’s emergence from the shadow of war
 7.  7The Russian soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine
 8.  8The 'oversized potatoes' that stole the Queen's heart
 9.  9Biden calls for US ban on military-style firearms
 10. 10In pictures: The Royal Family at Jubilee celebrations







BBC NEWS SERVICES

 * On your mobile
 * On smart speakers
 * Get news alerts
 * Contact BBC News

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * Culture
 * Music
 * TV
 * Weather
 * Sounds

 * Terms of Use
 * About the BBC
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookies
 * Accessibility Help
 * Parental Guidance
 * Contact the BBC
 * Get Personalised Newsletters
 * Why you can trust the BBC
 * Advertise with us
 * AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read
about our approach to external linking.