Ashbourne couple scoop €172k in Lottery win

A retired couple from Ashbourne scooped €172,223 in the National Lottery and collected their winnings at National Lottery Headquarters yesterday.

It was a busy day in the National Lottery Winners’ Room as two separate Lotto and Millionaire Raffle winners from Meath and Westmeath collected almost €300,000 in prize money.

The biggest claim of the day was made by the Ashbourne couple who won the Lotto Match 5 + Bonus prize on Saturday 07 January. 

The couple who wish to keep their win private bought their winning normal play ticket at JR’s First Stop store in Ashbourne on the day of the draw.

'We were lying in bed on Sunday morning, drinking coffee whilst listening to the news on the radio and I heard the newsreader call out my Lotto numbers. I knew the Lotto wasn’t won but I was sure I had heard quite a few of my numbers called out but I didn’t say anything to my husband until I was sure. Later that morning after mass, we went to the shop to check our ticket and I just couldn’t believe it when I was told we had won €172,223.'

Unselfishly, the winning couple have no plans on spending any of the money on themselves and will instead divide their prize amongst their family. 'We have spent our lives working and taking care of our children who are now all grown up. We are incredibly lucky in that we do not need for anything. We have discussed this at length and we have decided to give all of the money to our grandchildren who are only starting out in life. They are going through school and college at the moment and we know they will need the money much more than we do,'she added.

Separately, another very happy retired couple from Co Westmeath collected their €100,000 prize from the New Year’s Eve Millionaire Raffle draw which took place on Saturday 31st December.

The winning couple who also wish to keep their win private bought their winning ticket at Dunnes Stores in the Montree Shopping Centre in Athlone on 30th December .

The winning man counted his blessings after he joked that he very rarely ever buys National Lottery tickets and was still in disbelief at his massive win. 'This is very out of character for me. I was in the shop the day before the Millionaire Raffle Draw and I just decided to buy a ticket on a whim. My wife couldn’t believe I bought one as I would never usually buy a Lotto ticket. One thing is for sure, I will be playing more often in future,' he joked.