The cottage near Foxford, Co Mayo was placed for raffle in June by a Canada-based Irish couple who are both Covid-19 survivors.
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 put their picture-postcard cottage up for raffle.
In a statement on its website on Saturday morning, CK Auctioneers said the “winner of the cottage is a Dublin lady. Under GDPR we are awaiting permission from winner to publish their name.”
The fund is being administered by a Dublin-based accountant who plans to liaise with Siptu to dispense the money across the health sector fairly.
Plans to give money directly to healthcare workers were scrapped because of tax implications and other complexities for the recipients. The money will now be used as an education fund.
Selling tickets at €10 each, it is estimated that close to €1 million has been raised after the draw drew media attention.
The couple, who are known only by their first names Patrick and Joan, wanted to raise funds for healthcare workers after they came close to death from contracting coronavirus en route from Mexico to Canada in early March.
The 150-year-old cottage, on the Mayo side of the Ox Mountains, had been placed on the market through local agent CK Auctioneers earlier this year and attracted offers of up to €90,000.
Contributions to the raffle website have come from all quarters – mainly from people with links to Ireland, according to The Irish Times.
The draw took place at 10pm on Friday.
