Frances and Patrick Connolly win £115 million and give more than half away

Frances and Patrick Connolly won almost £115 million in the EuroMillions draw on 1 January 2019, using an online Lucky Dip. Only three UK players had won more at that point. Frances grew up in Glebe, Co Tyrone, and Patrick in Belfast. After about 25 years in Hartlepool, they were renting a home in Moira, Co Down.

Their first job was a list. It named about 50 relatives and friends who would get a share.

They then set up two charitable trusts. The Kathleen Graham Trust in Northern Ireland carries the name of Frances's late mother. The PFC Trust supports causes in north-east England. By December 2020 they had given away around £60 million. In 2022 Frances, a former social worker and teacher, said giving was addictive.

Their largest purchase was a house with several acres in County Durham. Money from the couple and the trusts has paid for Christmas presents for hospital patients, meals and laptops during the pandemic, respite caravans for young carers and help for refugees.

Sources

• Irish News: new lottery winners to share their wealth (Jan 2019) (irishnews.com)
• Irish News: Co Tyrone EuroMillions winners give away half of £115m (Dec 2020) (irishnews.com)
• RTÉ / PA: winner gives away over half of £115m, says helping is addictive (rte.ie)
• Irish Post: lottery winners have given away half their fortune (irishpost.com)