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A couple from Northern Ireland have said they have made a list of 50 people with whom they intend to share their £115m EuroMillions win.

Frances and Patrick Connolly, who live in Moira, County Down, matched the winning numbers in the New Year's Day draw.

It is the fourth biggest UK EuroMillions win.

The lucky pair's identities were revealed at a press conference just outside Belfast on Friday.

Speaking to the press, Frances Connolly said the money will be shared between friends, family and charities.

"This is a massive sum of money and we want it to have a huge impact on the lives of other people we know and love as well as on our future too."

The 52-year-old said the most important thing they have done since their win is make a list of people they want to give the money to.

'Wonderful family'

"At the minute there are about 50 people," she said, adding that most of those on the list do not yet know they are on it.

"It's going to be so much fun giving it away," she said. "The pleasure for me is going to be seeing their faces."

Her husband Patrick Connolly, 54, said: "I've got a wonderful wife, a wonderful family and wonderful friends, so this is the icing on the cake.

"Money doesn't bring you happiness. We already had happiness and were very blessed in life."

Asked by a reporter if they had thought about personal security, Mrs Connolly quipped: "I've never met anyone I couldn't take down myself!"

'Whirlwind'

The couple are regular Lotto players but only normally buy tickets for EuroMillions when there is a big jackpot.

On the subject of the money which remains for the couple when family, friends and charitable causes are taken care of, Mr Connelly said: "For the minute I'm retired, I need to digest this, but it won't last long, I need to be doing something."

Mrs Connolly, who worked for an online magazine for the voluntary sector, said: "I've wanted to do my PhD in clinical psychology and I can afford to do it now."

The winning numbers - 01, 08, 11, 25, 28, with Lucky Stars 04 and 06 - were selected at random, they said.

"Totally random, sure how would you pick those numbers? They're weird," Mrs Connelly joked, before adding that a holiday to Mauritius is on the cards.

She admitted that she will find it heartbreaking to read letters from people the couple cannot help, adding: "It will keep me up at night."

The biggest lottery prize in UK history is the £161m EuroMillions jackpot won by North Ayrshire couple Chris and Colin Weir in 2011.

'Life-changing'

Speaking to BBC News NI, Andy Carter of the National Lottery said its most important role is "looking after someone as they're going through a really life-changing experience".

"We make sure they have access to good legal advice and good financial advice, but it's primarily about supporting them through a period of both shock and excitement," he said.

Mr Carter explained that the decision on whether or not to go public about a win can be a difficult one.

"It's not right for everyone - you've got to consider what sort of person you are, what sort of family structure you have, how much you've won and are you able to hide it?

"The greatest advice is to take your time - do nothing quickly. Our advice is go away and have a holiday - take some time to really come to terms with it."

He added that past winners rarely make ostentatious purchases at an early stage.

"We often ask them what was your first purchase and they'll say the toilet seat was broken or the kettle wasn't working. Nothing surprises us!"

Past winners

Northern Ireland has had a history of big wins.

At the time, Margaret Loughrey said that on the day she bought the ticket, she had been to the job market to get an application form for a job with a charity.

Iris Jeffrey scooped £20.1m with a ticket she bought on 14 July but only realised she had hit the jackpot the following month after hearing an appeal by lottery organisers Camelot.

EuroMillions is played in nine countries - the UK, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland - with ticket-holders trying to win a share of the same jackpot.