Lotto winner dreaming of hurling glory

THE young man, who won an incredible €269,554 on a Euro Millions ticket in Gorey on May 19 last, has collected his winnings saying he plans to get ‘some posh seats in Croke Park’ for the All Ireland hurling final between Wexford and Kilkenny.

The unnamed Co Wexford man won the Euro Millions Match five plus Lucky Star prize and was just one number away from hitting the €118 million jackpot. The lucky Quick Pick ticket was sold at the Gwalia Stores in Gorey.

When asked what he will do with his ‘ life-changing’ win, all the passionate Wexford GAA man said what he really wants is to see his beloved Yellow Bellies beat Kilkenny in the All Ireland hurling final. ‘I cannot describe the relief that this win brings to my family,’ he said. ‘ This win is going to make a huge difference to so many people. It’s going to be a great adventure as we change our lives for the better.’

‘ The one and only thing I want for now is to see Wexford getting one over on Kilkenny in Croke Park in September. I’ll be following the team over the summer so I’ll have to treat myself to some posh seats in Croke Park when we get there,’ he laughed.

He was joined by his mother in the National Lottery winners’ room last week He said they only found out about the massive local win after a relative living abroad alerted them. ‘Good news certainly travels fast to every corner of the world,’ he commented. ‘We got a phone call on Sunday evening from a family member who heard about the Euro Millions win in Gorey.’

‘My mother hadn’t actually bought a ticket for the draw so she had no interest in the news,’ he continued. ‘As soon as I heard, I ran out to my car and there it was sitting on my dashboard, the winning ticket worth a quarter of a million euro.’

‘We are still in a state of shock and disbelief, we have been checking and rechecking the ticket every few hours since Sunday,’ he said. ‘ The past few days have given us the opportunity to take some time out and really consider the impact of the win on the whole family.’

‘I plan to move out of the family home and buy a place of my own which will set me up for the future, completely mortgage free,’ he revealed.