Lottery winner comes forward to claim massive €175m jackpot
The winner(s) of the monster €175m EuroMillions jackpot has come forward to initiate claiming their life-changing prize.
Rumours were swirling this morning that a syndicate of siblings from Duleek/Bellewstown and Ashbournel areas have a massive windfall.
Lottery chiefs have confirmed that the ticket was bought in Reilly's Daybreak in The Naul in north Dublin. It's also understood that one of the winners has made contact with National Lottery HQ in Dublin.
It's the biggest jackpot ever won by an Irish ticket holder.
The village of Duleek was buzzing this morning as news of the mega win filtered through to residents, businesses and passers-by.
Seamus Lowthe owner of Londis in Duleek says that he has been inundated with phone calls and people calling into the shop all asking if the ticket was sold there but it has since been revealed the winning ticket was sold in The Naul in north county Dublin.
"It literally hasn't stopped all morning and everyone in Duleek is talking about it. It would be great it was but I'm just delighted that the winners are from the area. It's fantastic for Duleek and I wish them the best of luck."
Seamus Lowthe of Londis Duleek
Cllr Sharon Keogan, Ann Marie Smith, Niamh Connor and Kai Connor
Local woman, Niamh Connor admitted that the multi-million euro windfall wasn't the only lotto win in the area.
" I won €20 in the lotto last night," she says, adding " It's not quite €175M. I don't think you'd know where to start with that amount of money."
Londis deli worker Ciara Kelly wasn't taking any prisoners with her spending plans.
" I'd send my son to boarding school and book a long holiday for my husband," she laughs.
Local Cllr Sharon Keogan confirmed that rumours were rife around Duleek this morning.
"There are many names being bandied about and the excitement is palpable around the area.
"It would be fantastic if it was true but no one has come forward yet so we will just have to wait and see if the rumours are true at all."
A National Lottery spokesperson today confirmed the name of the winning store. “This is fantastic news not only for the winner but for the lucky shop that sold the ticket. And we are delighted for Naul which is a small community. “
The spokesperson also confirmed that the lucky ticketholder has made contact with Lotto HQ and arrangements are being made to guide them through the prize claims process.
The record-breaking win eclipses the €115 million won by Limerick Woman Dolores McNamara in July 2005. It is the 14th Irish EuroMillions win since the game was launched in Ireland in 2004.
National Lottery CEO, Dermot Griffin, today congratulated Reilly’s Shop on selling the dream ticket. "This is an incredible win for an Irish EuroMillions player! And a record win for the National Lotttery we are thrilled. It is also a great day for the lucky shop that sold the golden ticket congrats to all.”
He added: "This has been an increcibly lucky period for players on the island of Ireland. In January a Northern Ireland couple won an amaxing €127 million in the EuroMillions jackpot. The luck of the Irish is definitely in the air."
The EuroMillions has been rolling for several weeks. The maximum EuroMillions jackpot of €190 million has only been paid out three times ever in the history of EuroMillons. EuroMillions is played in nine countries.
This is the 14th Irish EuroMillions win since the game was launched in Ireland in 2004.
The winning numbers were 1, 8, 18, 19, and 39 while the Lucky Stars were 7 and 9.