We won the Lotteary
»»Family celebrate win with a cuppa »»They plan to still go on package holiday
THE €175million Lotto siblings celebrated their mammoth win with a cup of tea, it has emerged.
The new multi-millionaires enjoyed a modest brew as they prepared to meet National Lottery chiefs.
And the Co Meath family are going ahead with a budget holiday to Spain booked before they hit the jackpot.
As May Whearty, one of the winners, was seen leaving her home yesterday, a friend told us: “They had a cup of tea, cup of coffee. There was nothing lavish.”
THIS is one of the nine Irish siblings who are a massive €175million richer after scooping the Euromillions jackpot.
Two days on from winning the life-changing amount of money, May Whearty stepped outside her modest home in Co Meath.
And she showed little sign of her new-found wealth as she and her brothers and sisters stand to pocket €19.4million each – after winning the biggest Lotto prize ever in Ireland
Speaking from her family cottage yesterday, the new multi-millionaire simply said: “We’ve already made a statement,” as she was whisked away in an eight-year-old saloon car.
It emerged the family spent two hours with Lotto representatives in Dublin on Wednesday.
Spokeswoman Miriam Donohoe told Virgin Media News: “They were very calm, they were in very good form.
“They had a cup of tea, cup of coffee, sandwiches.
“There was nothing lavish, there was no big splash. They’re very level-headed people.
“I think they will really handle this win in a very sensible way.”
As May and her family were enjoying a simple celebration, it also emerged:
■ The family plan to collect the huge prize next Thursday or Friday once the cash has been gathered from other European countries
■ The winners are going ahead with a package holiday to the Mediterranean booked before they hit the jackpot, and
■ They gathered yesterday for a celebratory lunch to discuss their plans.
A relative told the Irish Mirror the family will decide in the coming days whether to hold a press conference to go public with their amazing fortune.
He added: “They will meet with the National Lottery soon to discuss if they plan to give any interviews about their win.
“Money won’t change them, they’re the same people and will be from now until whenever they die, that’s just the way they are.
“It just makes the last 20 odd years of their life comfortable, they just want to see everyone happy.
“They’ll still do the same things every day, it’s not going to change their life, it’s a life-changing sum of money but it’s not going to change them as people. They’re all retired now.
“They just want to sit back and relax, they have no plans yet what to spend the money on and have no plans for a party.” A close family friend also said the siblings won’t be going over the top on their holiday either. They added: “They are a lovely ordinary bunch of people – you couldn’t meet nicer. They always go away together to Spain on an annual holiday and this year, despite landing the huge jackpot, they will do the same.
“No fancy apartments, no posh hotels. They will be happy in their package holiday resort – and will get there on low-cost flights.”
The pal revealed the newly-minted multi-millionaires all went for a celebratory lunch together in Dublin city centre before meeting up with financial advisors. They added: “It was tea and coffee on the first night, followed by a takeaway. Nothing wild.
“And then a quiet lunch yesterday before meeting the money experts.
“They have a lot to take in. They will get almost €20million each and that is a life-changing amount of money. And it’s all tax-free.”
Many of the family have been staying in a hotel organised by the National Lottery. The pal told how the family “didn’t get a wink of sleep” the night the news broke and they realised they were instant multi-millionaires. The winning ticket was hidden in an Argos catalogue and kept under the mattress overnight on Tuesday until it could be verified on Wednesday morning.
But they all slept soundly after a long day in talks with National Lottery executives.
They were remaining tight-lipped and wouldn’t say when the family might pose publicly with their €175,475,380.00 cheque.
Meanwhile, the owner of the shop
where the ticket was purchased revealed yesterday there had been an influx of people to buy Lotto tickets in the hope of getting lucky too.
Les Reilly, who owns Reilly’s Daybreak in the Naul, Co Dublin, said: “An awful lot of strangers have been coming into the shop, there’s been a huge up-sell in the Lotto since the win.
“One guy even bought a scratchcard last night and won €500 on it, he was hopping around the place.
“Previously we have sold a couple of €20,000 Lotto tickets and our own shop syndicate won €25,000 six years ago.
“We are known as the lucky shop when it comes to scratchcard winnings.
“We have had a lot of people win €5,000 and €10,000.
“The Naul is a very unique village, everyone knows everyone. Everyone is behind this lucky family.”
Lottery spokeswoman Ms Donohoe confirmed the newsagent is in for €25,000 payout after selling the winning ticket. Local Gerry Russell, who was buying scratchcards in the shop yesterday has had his own luck at the store. He revealed he pocketed a few thousand euro just a few years ago, adding: “I do the Lotto here every week. I won €3,000 on a Quick Pick ticket four years ago and I put it towards a new car. I know the winners very well. I golf with one of the husbands, they are all good people. A lovely family and I wish them all the best and good luck.”
The winning numbers in Tuesday’s draw were 1, 8, 18, 19, 39 and the Lucky Stars were 7, 9.
Many of the Rogers family live near the Naul, with others in Duleek and Bellewstown, Co Meath.
Their big win is bittersweet as the family lost two brothers last year.
They have got a lot to take in, they will get around €20m each
FAMILY FRIEND
DUBLIN YESTERDAY