Of course he is.
Fan of Connell’s Chain, yeah?
You better be, because the inanimate object has been taking social media by storm ever since the wildly successful Normal People landed onto our screens.
Silver, slight, and somehow deeply emotive, Connell’s Chain managed to make wearing necklaces with your school uniform sexy.
Only when a GAA playing emotionally troubled boy is doing it, though. No one else need apply.
Connell’s Chain became such a runaway success that someone even made an Instagram account in its honour. No, really. They did.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAiSqPFB5LA/
The real chain used during filming is currently in the possession of Mescal’s co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, but it’s not that chain we’re interested in today. It’s one of Paul Mescal’s own chains – and the fact that he’s raffling it off to raise some vital funds for Pieta House.
What a guy.
“I am delighted to be able to help Pieta by raffling off one of my own chains,” said Paul.
“Pieta is a cause very close to my heart, having experienced loss due to suicide in my local town while growing up.
“Suicide and depression are themes directly linked to Normal People especially around episodes nine and 10 which is why I want to help those in similar situations.”
The raffle, aptly named Chain for Pieta, takes place next month, and will allow one lucky person to win Paul’s actual chain, while everybody else does their bit and donates what they can to the suicide prevention charity.
The postponement of Pieta’s flagship fundraiser Darkness into Light due to Covid-19 left the charity with a very significant funding gap this year.
Pieta House relies on the public for 80 percent of its funding to provide continuous availability of their national mental health service free of charge.
Donations for the raffle start at just €10 – the cost of funding one phone call to Pieta’s 24 hour helpline – but entrants can donate as much as they like for a better chance of winning Paul’s iconic neck piece.
“We are absolutely blown away by the support for Pieta and generosity shown by the Irish public in recent weeks,” said Pieta’s fundraising and events coordinator, Brian McEvoy.
“Pieta is a charity that most Irish people feel connected to, as unfortunately in society today, we are all touched by suicide in some way. Normal People is a magnificent representation of the highs and lows of growing up in Ireland today.
“Thank you, Paul, for this extremely kind and thoughtful gesture and for speaking out about such a sensitive topic with respect, grace and delicacy.”
The raffle will be open for two weeks from today, May 25, until Monday June 8. The winner will be selected at random at 3pm via a live stream from Pieta’s Facebook page.
You can find out more, or make a donation, here.
