Christmas magic for €5.5m lotto winner
The wining ticket — a quick pick multi-draw purchase for €8 — was bought in Eason in Ballincollig, about 13km outside Cork city. The win means a grand total of €37.5m has been won in Cork alone this year.
Eason’s staff were having fun yesterday surmising who the fortunate winner was. Supervisor of the store Alex Lenihan said there is “great excitement” around as staff and customers alike try to work out who it is.
“There is a real buzz in the air — we are asking everyone who comes in if it was them,” Ms Lenihan said, adding that staff were almost certain it was a local person.
Ms Lenihan said if the winner does come forward publicly there will be great celebrations.
“Our trade is very much local. We all have our eyes open and are waiting to see someone singing and dancing around the square.
“It is a great thing to happen just before Christmas.”
A spokesperson for the National Lottery said Cork had been very fortunate this year and it was one of the highest regions for winnings outside of Dublin.
“Cork has had a fantastic year scooping €35.7m including last night’s prize.”
The rebel county has chalked up some great wins this year — including a four-in-a-row stint, a sequence described by the National Lottery as “unprecedented”.
Previous cash prizes this year include a Cork couple who joined the “millionaires’ club” on June 9 when they won the a jackpot worth more than €6m from a ticket purchased in Tesco in Wilton Shopping Centre.
In February, another Cork player made history when he became the first National Lottery online jackpot winner. The married man won more than €5.5m.
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