Ireland's EuroMillions luck continues for civil servant

Ireland’s astonishing run of luck in the EuroMillions lottery draw continued today when a civil servant in her 20s picked up a cheque for almost €300,000.

The Kildare woman, who bought her ticket in Eddie O’Connor’s Centra Quick Stop on Main Street, Newbridge, won €297,880 by matching five numbers plus one lucky star in Friday night’s draw.

“While out for a walk last Sunday, I dropped into my local shop and asked the shop assistant to check my EuroMillions ticket,” the winner, who did not want to be named, said.

“She scanned the ticket and told me I had to contact the National Lottery, so I got a printout of the winning numbers and discovered I had won the Match 5 plus 1 Lucky Star prize.

“I then phoned my boyfriend and my family and went back to my parents’ house for a little celebration. I was just one number away from winning €15m euro, but I am delighted with this prize.

“I do not know what I will do with my winnings as yet but I will stick the cheque in the bank and have a good think about it.”

The latest win comes just a week after Dolores McNamara became the first person to match five numbers plus two lucky stars and scoop a rollover jackpot of €115,436,126.

Five other lucky punters have also matched five numbers plus one lucky star, winning a total of almost €3.2m.