Magical we’ve done the jackpot bubble
Shopkeeper’s joy at €8.9m ticket.. after Dolores win
We are back on the map for a lottery win, big time
TOM BROSNAN YESTERDAY
THE owner of the shop which sold the winning ticket for Saturday’s €8.9m Lotto jackpot said: “This win is just magical.”
The National Lottery has confirmed the golden docket was purchased at Garryowen Stores in Limerick city – the same store that sold Dolores Mcnamara’s record-breaking €115m Euromillions slip in 2005.
Tom Brosnan was yesterday still in disbelief that his small store could sell another lifechanging lottery prize in his time.
He said: “We’re back on the map for a lottery win, big time. It’s been almost 20 years since we sold the winning Euromillions ticket to Dolores but this win is just as magical. Most of our customers are local and we’re absolutely thrilled for whoever it might be.
“The whole community has been down to the shop today, there’s a great buzz about the place and I’m sure the celebrations will continue for a good few weeks until the winner comes forward. Whoever they are, we wish them the very best of luck.”
The winning numbers in Saturday’s draw were 1, 9, 10, 14, 26, 40 and bonus 4.
The National Lottery are continuing to appeal to Limerick Lotto players to check their tickets carefully as Saturday’s jackpot winner is yet to make contact.
He or she is advised to sign the back of their ticket and should make contact with the prize claims team.
Ms Mcnamara famously became the first Euromillions jackpot winner in Ireland after purchasing her winning €115million ticket at Garryowen Stores in July 2005 which marked the biggest lottery win in Europe at the time.
The jackpot had not been won since May and had rolled over nine times, leading to Dolores bagging the thenrecord sum.
After scooping the jackpot, Dolores was instantly propelled to No 70 on
Ireland’s rich list, overtaking Roy Keane and Colin Farrell.
She revealed in an interview after her big win that she’d originally meant to buy lines for the National Lottery and got confused when the shop assistant asked if she wanted a €2 Euromillions ticket.
She said at the time: “I didn’t know that this was a different draw to the Saturday night one on RTE television, so I just said yes.
“The lady asked if it was a Quick Pick I wanted. I said it was.
“I wouldn’t have bothered staying to do it if I’d had to pick out numbers and mark them on a slip.”