IRISH WINNER OF €39M EUROMILLIONS JACKPOT

A LUCKY Irish ticket holder has scooped last night’s €38.9millon EuroMillions jackpot.

The winning numbers of the draw were 4, 8, 22, 23, 48, with the Lucky Stars 1 and 12.

It is currently unknown where in the country the ticket was bought, however a National Lottery spokesman said that the county the ticket was sold in may be revealed tomorrow.

The spokesman said: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled that it is an Irish winner to close out the year.’

The latest winner will be the 13th EuroMillions jackpot winner in Ireland since its launch in 2004 and the third this year. A west of Ireland syndicate picked up €28,975,630 in July after purchasing the winning ticket at the Garryduff XL Store in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

At the start of the year, a Dublin work syndicate claimed the €88,587,275 EuroMillions jackpot in January. The lucky ticket was purchased at the Applegreen Service Station in Lusk, Co. Dublin.

Meanwhile, in a case of divine intervention, a Florida-based Irish priest has won €500,000 on the EuroMillions Plus draw. The retired cleric – originally from Co. Mayo – was home on holidays when he scooped the jackpot. He bought the winning Quick Pick ticket in Donnybrook Fair in Malahide, north Dublin, just a few days before Christmas.

And the lucky priest joked that God must be listening to his prayers, as this is not his first lottery win.

He revealed that he won £15,000 on the old Irish Sweepstakes, and has also won $3,000 and $5,000 in lotteries in the USA.

He said of his latest windfall: ‘This is a huge amount of money and I look forward to giving some back.’