National Lottery congratulates Armagh EuroMillions winners on ‘life-changing’ prize

"They have become the biggest winners on the island of Ireland."

The National Lottery has sent their congratulations to Frances and Patrick Connolly, the Armagh couple who won the €127.6 million (£114 million) EuroMillions jackpot in the New Year's Day draw. The winning numbers were 1, 8, 11, 25, 28 and the lucky stars were 4 and 6. Dermot Griffin, the CEO of the National Lottery, said he is delighted to have such a big win on the island of Ireland. He continued:

“We wish Frances and Patrick Conolly the best of luck with this life-changing win. "They have become the fourth biggest UK lottery winners in history, and the biggest winners on the island of Ireland topping Limerick woman Dolores McNamara who won €115 million on the EuroMillions jackpot back in 2005."

Almost 30 cents in every euro spent on Irish National Lottery games goes back to communities in the areas of sport, health, arts, culture, heritage, youth, community and the Irish language. Last year alone more than €227 million was raised for Good Causes, or over €620,000 a day. Mr. Griffin continued:

“EuroMillions has been a great success in Ireland with 13 Irish EuroMillions winners since the game was launched here in 2004. "EuroMillions has been very important to us in generating funds for Good Causes. Thanks to our players for contributing to communities in Ireland.”

Of the 13 EuroMillions wins in Ireland to date three have gone public. The first was Dolores McNamara who was a single winner. The other two public winners were syndicates – a Dublin Bus syndicate won €23.8 million in July 2016; while a syndicate from Stakelum’s Hardware in Thurles, Co.Tipperary, won €17 million in June last year.