Scooping €500k? Since I survived cancer, I feel like I win the lottery every day
‘Nice little sum – and I have my health’
AN 84-year-old farmer who has just scooped €500,000 on the EuroMillions has said he feels like he has won the lottery for the second time after overcoming cancer.
Donegal pensioner Charlie Meehan had to wake his wife after he checked his lotto numbers on Tuesday night.
Mr Meehan said he often does the Lotto when buying a newspaper… but never thought he would win.
He admitted that he indulged in a nightcap after checking the numbers with his family.
‘I woke the wife from the bed as she was sleeping and I told her that we’d won some money. Of course... she asked me exactly how much we’d won,’ laughed Mr Meehan.
But despite winning the huge sum, Mr Meehan, of Drumoghill, near Letterkenny, said he feels he has already won the lottery by overcoming cancer in the past.
‘I’ve no real plans for the cash,’ Mr Meehan said. ‘It is a nice sum but I have my health now and that’s all that matters.
‘I had my own health problems in the past when I had cancer in 2012. I spent most of that year in hospital in Galway but I have made a great recovery. The staff in Letterkenny and Galway hospitals were very good to me.
‘To be honest, I don’t worry too much about the money at this stage in my life. All I’m concerned about is being able to live a happy and healthy life and money can’t buy you that.’
Mr Meehan said he had no immediate plans for the cash as he has a home and a decent car.
But he quipped: ‘It’s a lovely sum of money. I’m kind of glad that I didn’t win anything bigger because it might bring its own worries with it then.
‘I haven’t thought about what to do with the cash. There are a few women about the house so I’m sure they’ll come up with ways of spending it.’
Charlie chose the Quick Pick option to buy his ticket and the winning EuroMillions Plus numbers were 02, 12, 33, 42, 44.
This is the third EuroMillions Plus winning ticket in Ireland this year.
Jimmy Barclay, of Barclay’s Newsagents in Raphoe, said he was delighted to learn that one of his customers had picked up the prize in Tuesday night’s draw.