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Frances and Patrick Connolly Liam McBurney via PA Images

'I've got some good news': Northern Irish couple named as €130m EuroMillion winners

The couple has said they have made a list of about 50 people they wish to share their winnings with.

A NORTHERN IRISH couple who won the £114 million EuroMillions jackpot on New Year’s Day have been named as Frances and Patrick Connolly. 

The pair won a total of £114,969,775.70 (€129,645,665) in the draw, becoming the UK’s fourth-largest winners in history. 

The couple matched the numbers 1, 8, 11, 25 and 28, plus Lucky Stars 4 and 6, ending a long sequence of rollovers stretching back to 16 November. 

It was announced on Wednesday that the winners had already come forward to claim their prize, and that they decided to go public with their story rather than remain anonymous. 

Speaking to the media at a news conference in Belfast this morning, Frances Connolly said: “All the time we’ve been doing the National Lottery I don’t think we’ve got three tenners.” 

Patrick Connolly said that when he initially checked his numbers online he was convinced it was a scam. 

However, the news began to sink in after he checked the numbers on numerous news websites.

He said he turned the computer around to his wife and said “I think I’ve got some good news for you”. 

Speaking about why they made the decision to go public, Frances Connolly said that “it was never going to be a secret”. 

“If we’d had small families I wouldn’t have minded asking my brothers and sisters to keep it quiet for a while, but … nah,” she said. 

The couple has said they have made a list of about 50 people they wish to share their winnings with. 

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Power
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:19 AM

    Insane to go public with this!

    913
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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:26 AM

    @Niall Power: yeah totally insane. They seem like nice people so fair play to them. Yeah news gets around. But whispers haven’t the national scope that the news has.

    203
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Niall Power:

    They’re not insane. I think they may be distant relations of mine and I take offence to you calling them insane. In fact, I’m going to try to contact them now and try to reconnect with them. I’m sure they would appreciate some support from their nearest and dearest and I’d be more than happy to help them through this exiting time

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:46 AM

    @Niall Power: with the Euromillions I think you have to go public..I could be wrong but could have sworn I heard that somewhere before.

    13
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    Mute John Horan
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:55 AM

    @Peter Cavey: you are wrong.

    143
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    Mute Niall Power
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:04 PM
    47
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: would be delighted to represent you upon receipt of DNA proof

    16
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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Niall Power: argee your comment & congratulations couple and very foolish both public and both won’t quite life from annoying people & all charities ask them and I wouldn’t public with winner lottery

    17
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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Jan 4th 2019, 4:19 PM

    @Niall Power: especially up north

    8
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    Mute John
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    Jan 4th 2019, 6:28 PM

    @Martin Quinn: that’s my exact plan……if I ever win it.

    9
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    Mute chris c
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    Jan 4th 2019, 10:44 PM

    @Peter Cavey: go back to sleep. Fake news

    2
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    Mute Seamus Murphy
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    Jan 5th 2019, 11:31 AM

    @Niall Power: how exactly would you go about hiding that amount?

    1
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:25 AM

    One massive winner was asked
    “What about all the begging letters?”
    “I’ll keep sending them “was his reply .

    233
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:39 AM

    Really do not understand going public with this but best of luck to them and those lucky enough to be affected by this incredible piece of luck

    154
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    Mute Darren Davis
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:37 AM

    They’re certainly Brexit ready now!

    117
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jan 5th 2019, 12:05 AM

    @Darren Davis: Brilliant!

    4
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    Mute Vincent
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:22 AM

    Any chance they would extend the list to 51 people? I could add my name on the list.

    110
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    Mute Niallers
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    Jan 4th 2019, 2:32 PM

    @Vincent: The tax man will be interested in knowing who is getting the gifts.

    21
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    Mute Earl of Daventry
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    Jan 4th 2019, 2:38 PM

    @Niallers: if all 50 people turn up when they collect the winnings you avoid gift tax

    24
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:38 AM

    Try getting that cheque through the self-lodging machines in the bank

    103
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    Mute Paul A Whelan
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:53 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: try taking a lump out without being spected of money laundering!

    17
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    Mute Elizabeth Thewiz
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:12 PM

    Well I congratulate their good fortune and hope they and their families who share this are happy and comfortable for the rest of their lives.

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:40 AM

    One of the begging letters was probably for a ‘cash for sash’ donation.

    47
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    Mute Seriously stunned
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:16 PM

    End of marriage to be announced soon.

    52
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    Mute Ger
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:09 PM

    Like most people I’ve often thought about what I’d do if I won that amount and although I would 100% want to remain anonymous it would be impossible because of the size of my family. Even if I sat then down and asked them to keep it quiet it would never last beyond a day. Good luck to them.

    43
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    Mute Geraldine O'Riordan
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Ger: Easy….don’t tell the family…

    33
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    Mute Ger
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    Jan 4th 2019, 3:36 PM

    @Geraldine O’Riordan: they’d probably figure it out when I started buying Jacobs jaffa cakes instead of Tesco brand

    76
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    Mute KJ
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:36 AM

    Wish it was me.

    33
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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:11 PM

    @KJ: While we all wish it were us winning such a large jackpot these people seem to be very genuine, one of their first thoughts was for 50 people they wished to share their good luck with. We all say what we’d do if we were to be so lucky, I know the sceptics will say they haven’t given a penny away yet, but all the indications are that they’re thinking of others and will share their good fortune. Nice people.

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    Mute KJ
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:13 PM

    @Arch Angel: agree with you they do seem to be interested in providing for others than themselves and I do wish them well.

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:15 PM

    @KJ: it could be you

    2
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    Mute KJ
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    Jan 4th 2019, 2:18 PM

    @Hardly Normal: unfortunately it never has.

    3
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    Mute Graham Murphy
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:35 PM

    I wouldn’t have gone public but I say it would be pretty obvious after a few items are bought

    32
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    Mute Keith Richardson
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:43 PM

    Not sure on tax rules in UK, but if you gifted large sums to family or friends in Ireland, then they would be liable for gift tax. The only way around this is to say it’s a syndicate.

    28
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    Mute fintolini
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:59 PM

    @Keith Richardson: just get a load of cash from the bank, stick it in 50 bags… say you throw it all on the ponies…. dead certs they were …

    25
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    Mute Insider at RTE
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:51 AM

    Hope the Oglaighs don’t bother them!

    31
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    Mute bopter
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    Jan 4th 2019, 4:32 PM

    Exactly. They’ll have the INLA and the Shinners threatening them with kneecapping if they don’t cough up a few million in protection money.

    So so stupid to go public.

    14
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    Mute Joe O'riordan
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:13 PM

    Another excuse to say northern Irish…bet they describe themselves as irish and not that …

    23
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    Mute Martin Purcell
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    Jan 4th 2019, 1:25 PM

    Congratulations to you both enjoy your luck

    16
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    Mute Emmett Currie
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    Jan 4th 2019, 7:06 PM

    An Irish couple

    14
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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 4th 2019, 6:36 PM

    I won €10 last week. Told no one. Fk that for a lark.

    19
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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:47 PM

    Best of luck enjoy

    10
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    Mute Laurence O Neill
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:45 PM

    Mad they are toy go public
    All the began letters
    All the times proplcome to there house with sad story’s
    And last is tiger kidnapping

    18
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    Mute Who cares?
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    Jan 4th 2019, 12:58 PM

    @Laurence O Neill: Put down that pint!

    63
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    Mute Kem Trayle
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    Jan 4th 2019, 11:34 AM

    The couple has said they have made a list of about 50 people they wish to share their winnings with. “The rest of you can f**k off!”, they added.

    49
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    Mute sue
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    Jan 4th 2019, 6:04 PM

    The very best of luck to them and the lucky 50 that made their list! People betting on their marriage break up are awful jealous people. I am extrememly jealous of them but i wish them nothing but health and happiness.

    9
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    Mute Big Red
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    Jan 4th 2019, 2:55 PM

    They could use it to fund a United Ireland for a week

    4
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    Mute James Bishop
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    Jan 4th 2019, 4:43 PM

    Remember one lottery winner saying it was the worst thing that happened to him and he wasted all his money quick enough.

    I would never go public with this. Would not be surprised if their marriage hits the rocks now. Naive i feel.

    5
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jan 5th 2019, 12:07 AM

    Wonderful. Glad someone had good news. I love how they thought of others as well. Delighted for them.

    3
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    Mute sandra clifford
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    Jan 5th 2019, 12:56 AM

    What a lovely start to the new year best of luck to them

    1
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    Mute the-baldie-lad
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    Jan 5th 2019, 2:00 AM

    Good news. Yay

    1
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    Mute Paul Cahoon
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    Jan 5th 2019, 12:31 PM

    Irish couple

    1
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    Mute Noodles
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    Jan 4th 2019, 10:36 PM

    Any chance of being added to the list? Ah g’wan. Not looking for millions, few Bob towards a deposit be grand.

    1
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    Mute Josephine Carroll
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    Jan 4th 2019, 10:01 PM

    Well all i can say is the best of british luck to them.

    1
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