News writer
What started as an ordinary day in Cork turned into a jaw-dropping moment that would change one family's life forever. After a casual stop at a shop and a last-minute lottery ticket, they found themselves holding the winning numbers for Ireland's biggest-ever EuroMillions jackpot — a staggering €250 million. But despite the record-breaking win, this low-key crew insists not much will change.
A total shock
A family from Cork has officially claimed Ireland's largest-ever EuroMillions jackpot — an astonishing €250 million prize that has left them reeling in “complete disbelief.”
The winning ticket, purchased last month by a member of a family lottery syndicate, has changed the lives of multiple generations overnight. Despite the record-breaking win, the family insists they are determined to stay grounded and keep life as normal as possible. One of the winners told lottery officials:
We're planning to remain in Ireland, and we promised ourselves we won't let this win change us. I'll still be having my favorite ham and cheese sambo for lunch every day!
A life-changing surprise
The lucky ticket was bought during a routine trip to Cork, when one family member happened to notice the EuroMillions jackpot total at the store counter. They recalled:
I saw the sign at the till that the EuroMillions jackpot was 250 million euros. Although I'm a regular player, I hadn't bought a ticket for the last two draws. I picked one up and didn't think much of it.
They truly didn't think much of it, as it wasn't until later, when they were watching the evening news, that things took a surreal turn. The winner said:
I saw someone in Ireland had the winning EuroMillions ticket. So naturally, I got my ticket and scanned it on the National Lottery app, and a message popped up, 'You've won big, contact the National Lottery.' Obviously, this wasn't a message I was used to seeing, so I must have checked it four more times.
Sleep was out of the question
Still in shock, the winner ran upstairs to tell their wife.
We sat at the edge of the bed, saying 'Oh my god' over and over – I reckon we said it about 50 times. We were in total shock, complete disbelief. As you can imagine, sleep was out of the question that night.
The family set an early alarm the next morning and called the National Lottery. After a few tense minutes on hold, the confirmation finally came. One member explained:
Those few minutes felt like the longest of my life. When Ronan from the claims team confirmed we were the outright winner, needless to say, we were in total shock all over again.
Staying grounded, but with Rolex dreams
The family couldn't make it right away to claim their prize, so they carefully hid it inside an A4 sheet tucked beneath a pile of folded laundry. In the days that followed, they tried to maintain their daily routines while slowly adjusting to their new reality.
Now that they have their winnings in hand, their plans include family holidays, purchasing property abroad, and helping relatives and charities close to their hearts. They also want to use the money to support their children and grandchildren. One of the winners stated:
We're absolutely going on a family holiday. We love to travel, and there are so many amazing trips we've always dreamed of that we can now make a reality.
Any extravagant spending planned for the family? When asked, one family member joked:
I always dreamed of owning a Rolex watch, knowing I could never afford it. I went window shopping last week just to have a look and couldn't believe the price tag of some of the watches. When I phoned my wife to tell her, she said, 'Sure you can buy them now if you want' – I don't think the news has really sunk in yet.
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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