Luck of the Irish... in New York

A 28-year-old from Cavan has won $10 million (€7.6m) in the New York Lottery.

Brendan Riordan, who left Ireland with his family in 2003 and settled in Westchester County, north of Manhattan, is guaranteed a regular payday for life in the unique scratchcard game.

As a top prize winner on the New York Lottery’s “Win For Life Spectacular” game, Brendan will receive a minimum prize of $10m in 20 annual installments of $520,000 ($337,256 after tax). Once that has been reached, he will continue to receive an annual cheque for life.

Brendan, an estate agent, admitted yesterday that although he had been reluctant to leave Ireland, his life had changed for the better since moving to the US — even before his massive windfall.

“I quit smoking, I got my real estate licence — and I won the lottery,” he said.

Brendan purchased his winning ticket on Jan 28 at the Irish Mini Market on McLean Avenue in Yonkers.

“I was driving around looking at properties and decided to stop for a couple of tickets,” he explained. “I started to scratch them that night, but got sidetracked when a movie I wanted to see came on TV.”

Brendan finished scratching his tickets on Sunday morning.

“I matched the number 19 on the top and bottom and kept thinking there must be a mistake,” recalled Brendan. “I passed the ticket to my parents, but they don’t play the lottery so they weren’t much help.”

Brendan claimed his prize on Jan 30. “I couldn’t wait for Monday to come.”

As for his plans for the money, Brendan said: “I never made plans because I never really thought I’d win. I’d like to own a house here in New York... and one in Ireland, too.”