Herdman’s Mill, a 62-acre compound located in Sion Mills, was sold to Loughrey for an unreported sum although records show the site was sold for approximately £1.3 million to the previous owners, Connective Energy Holdings, just last year. Founded in 1835, the world famous flax mill remained in the possession of the Herdman family until 2011 but has changed hands several times in recent years.
Although Ronan McAnenny, the estate agent who brokered the deal, declined to comment on the site’s value, he said the sale was excellent news for the whole area: “People will be delighted that the mill is in local ownership and while plans are at a very early stage, this facility should help regenerate Sion Mills and the wider area around it.”
Loughrey’s plans include restoring the derelict mill into an attractive tourist destination and museum while developing the surrounding land into sports and community facilities for local people. Her ambitious proposal will follow a ten year plan and is expected to create at least 50 new jobs.
Generous Loughrey won a life-changing EuroMillions jackpot less than a year ago when she picked up the jackpot worth £27 million in the EuroMillionss draw on 26th November 2013. When she came forward to collect her win, Loughrey revealed she was not interested in moving away from the area and said she would use the money to “change lives for the better and make a lot of people happy, not just me.” It certainly seems like Loughrey is living up to her promise and is giving back to her much-loved local area.
Remarkably, Loughrey isn’t the first lottery winner to become involved with bio-waste plants. In November 2012, Mark and Cindy Hill scooped a colossal US$293 million in the American multi-state Powerball lottery and donated $50,000 to a bio-waste plant in their hometown of Camden Point, Missouri. The sizable donation meant the town’s 500 residents no longer had to rely on personal septic tanks for sewerage treatment.
