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A raffle for a pretty picture-postcard farmhouse in May to raise funds for healthcare workers had raised nearly 1 million euros on Friday afternoon, with six hours to go before the curtain fell.
When the raffle ended, the couple who owned the house near Foxford described the level of interest in it in recent weeks as “unreal.”
The house was put up for raffle in June by a Canadian-based Irish couple who are Covid-19 survivors. They have asked to remain anonymous.
The retired businessman and former doctor with homes around the world wanted to do something to give back after surviving the deadly virus and decided to use his Mayo home as a fundraising prize.
Tickets are € 10 and the money has been pouring in for weeks after having passed the pair’s initial goal of € 250,000.
Contributions to the raffle website come from all quarters, primarily from people with ties to Ireland.
The couple have said that all the money raised will go to those who weren’t doctors on the front line, but who still took the same risks as doctors and nurses, such as cleaners, porters and kitchen staff.
The decision to raise money for healthcare support workers came from a combination of her own recent experience with the virus, seeing friends and family around her affected by cancer, and a lifelong belief that staff at Support in hospitals does not get the recognition it deserves.
Most ticket buyers have bought in small quantities, while some spenders have stretched to 25 tickets for € 250.
The 150-year-old farmhouse on the Mayo side of the Ox Mountains had been put on the market through local agent CK Auctioneers earlier this year and attracted offers of up to € 90,000.
The fund is being managed by a Dublin-based accountant who plans to collaborate with Siptu to distribute the money across the healthcare sector fairly.
Plans to give money directly to healthcare workers were scrapped due to tax implications and other complexities for recipients and the money will now be used as an education fund.
The winner will get an idyllic vacation getaway upgraded in recent years to include storage heating and a solid fuel stove. They will also receive rights to mow their own grass in the nearby swamp.
The retired businessman says he nearly died after contracting coronavirus en route from Mexico to Canada in early March.
The drawing will take place at 10pm Irish time (5pm US time).
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