Lotto syndicate 'in shock' after discovering life-changing win while on holiday

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

National Lottery HQ has been buzzing with excitement this week, as winners from from across the country travelled to the capital to claim their life-changing Lotto prizes.
From surprise holiday discoveries to tickets guarded like treasure, the celebrations were in full swing at Lotto HQ- and with tonight's EuroMillions jackpot soaring to an estimated €235 million, anticipation is building across Ireland ahead of tonight's draw.
Among those picking up prizes this week were a syndicate of five from the west of Ireland, who claimed a cheque for a whopping €1 million which they won in the special EuroMillions Ireland Only Raffle from the August 1 draw with their online ticket.
As with every EuroMillions draw, ten players in the August 1 draw won €5,000 with their unique raffle ticket number, while the special draw saw the Lotto syndicate have an additional €1,000,000 added to their prize, making them the 16th National Lottery millionaire of the year with a total prize worth €1,005,000.
The group, based in Co Sligo, discovered their win while on holiday, turning a relaxing break into a moment of pure celebration. It has been a busy week at Lotto HQ as a series of winners collect life-changing prizes (Image: Getty Images)
'I checked my emails the day after the draw and saw a message from the National Lottery saying I'd won big,' said the syndicate lead.
'At first, I thought it was €103. Then I suspected it might be the €5,000 raffle prize. But when I realised it was the €1 million raffle win… I was in complete shock!'
Another member added: 'It was the Bank Holiday weekend, so we had to wait until Tuesday morning to confirm the win with the Prize Claims team. The suspense was unreal!'
Despite just returning from holiday the group are planning to jet away once again as the put their newfound fortune to good use.
'We've already booked a holiday!' one said. 'There's a certain destination we've always dreamed of visiting, and now we can go, no expense spared. We can't wait!'
Another member shared plans to put the winnings towards future college fees, ensuring the prize will have a lasting impact.
Meanwhile, a player from Co Galway also made the journey to Lottery HQ this week to claim her Lotto Match 5 + Bonus prize which she won in the draw on Saturday, August 2.
The Athenry woman narrowly missed out on the top prize of €13,704,859, but the lucky player still secured a hefty €60,394 by matching five of the six numbers, plus the bonus, after purchasing her winning Quick Pick ticket at Tesco in Athenry Shopping Centre.
The Galway native, a regular Lotto player, was completely stunned when she realised she held the winning ticket mentioned in a newspaper article.
'I saw the article saying someone in Athenry had won €60,000 in the Lotto and just assumed it wasn't me,' she laughed. 'It wasn't until later in the day, as I was preparing to go back to work after the Bank Holiday, that I remembered to scan my ticket.'
The moment of discovery was unforgettable: 'I kept screaming 'what?' over and over – it was a total shock!'
After sharing the joyful news with her family, she wasted no time in booking a well-deserved holiday to celebrate her win.
Lastly, a syndicate of two from Co Mayo was on hand to claim their winning from the Lotto draw on August 30 which saw them scoop an impressive €40,002. The winning ticket was purchased at Hineys Londis in Crossmolina, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
One member of the duo recalled the moment he bought the all-important winning ticket: 'I just had a good feeling when I bought it' he laughed.
Since discovering their win, the duo have been treating the ticket like treasure. 'I've been minding that ticket with my life - it's either been by my side or hidden away in a secret box in a cupboard.'
When asked how they plan to celebrate, the pair shared 'We haven't celebrated just yet, but we're looking forward to booking a holiday somewhere sunny.'
Meanwhile anticipation is building across Ireland ahead of tonight's EuroMillion as the jackpot soars to an estimated €235m.
Players dreaming of becoming Ireland's newest multi-millionaire are reminded that tickets for tonight's draw can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or at http://www.lottery.ie ahead of the 7.30pm cut-off time for sales this evening.
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