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Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rumours swirl over identity of Ireland's €250m EuroMillions jackpot winner
There were jubilations on Shandon Street in Cork this morning as the staff at Clifford's Centra let off confetti and popped champagne to celebrate their part in the largest ever Irish Lottery Jackpot. However, despite a neat €25,000 bonus going to the shop for selling the ticket that won Tuesday's Euromillions draw, we are still no closer to discovering the identity of the winners, leading to rampant speculation. Locals around Shandon Street said the chatter is all about a local syndicate sharing the colossal jackpot, but a National Lottery spokesperson informed us that they can't confirm anything at present. When questioned, the spokesperson stated: "To be clear, all we know at the moment is one person has made contact with us, we've verified the ticket and now they have 90 days to come forward. "We don't know if it's an individual or syndicate, we only refer to them as a player, because even in the case of a syndicate winning, it's only ever the one person that comes forward on behalf of the syndicate," reports Cork Beo. The likely next steps are: the winner or winners will travel to National Lottery HQ in Dublin to officially collect their prize. They have 90 days to do this. If they opt to stay anonymous, the National Lottery will probably issue a brief statement saying the prize has been formally claimed by an unidentified single player or person representing a syndicate. A local resident proposed an intriguing theory on Shanon Street this morning, noting that the Centra is conveniently located next to a funeral home that frequently hosts large removals - and mourners who come to Shandon Street to pay their respects often pop into the Centra next door. Elaine Cannon said: 'My Mam had the idea that it might have been someone at a removal next door, because a lot of the time people go in there to buy lottery tickets" she said, adding; "It's not me, I've never bought a lotto ticket in my life." Regardless of who the winner is, there were massive celebrations at Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street after it was announced they were the fortunate shop that sold the winning ticket. The excitement reached fever pitch when the National Lottery team dropped by to congratulate staff, snap some photos and adorn the shop's exterior with decorations. Locals didn't waste any time joining in the festivities either - speculating about the identity of the lucky winner and pondering what they'd do if they won a life-altering €250m jackpot. Naturally, the Clifford's Centra staff also chimed in with their thoughts. Anne O'Sullivan, who's manned the tills in the shop for over 26 years, expressed: "Hearing it was won around the area was fantastic, I don't care who won it, as long a it was won around the area. It doesn't make any difference but I hope a syndicate won it, it's too much money for one person." In a heart-to-heart, one Lotto winner shared their humble plans for the cash, "What would I do with the money? I'd have to book in somewhere and get someone to advise me, I've a big family and I'd want to make them all happy." Meanwhile, the community is abuzz with the thought that a massive Lotto win could bring more trouble than joy. Shandon Street's very own Daniel Heffernan commented on the matter, stating - "I hope it's a syndicate as that amount of money would destroy people. How would you hide it if you won? You couldn't still go around driving a Toyota Corolla. But it's great for Shandon Street, I'm delighted it was won here." As this astonishing win makes history, it sets a record for being the heftiest sum ever scooped up in the Irish Republic since the introduction of EuroMillions in 2004, and marks the 18th occasion an Irish punter has won the EuroMillions jackpot.
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Coventry University hits out at union open day amid cuts dispute
Staff and students fighting cuts at a West Midlands university are holding "an alternative open day" to raise awareness of the University and College Union (UCU) has claimed 340 jobs are at risk and called for cuts of £100m to be made in a "a less damaging way", but the figures have been disputed by Coventry University.A university spokesman said the union's open day was a protest rally "deliberately targeting prospective students at the university's open day on 15 March".The BBC understands the university has proposed the reduction of 92 full-time academic posts and removal of about 200 university roles. 'Showcasing the best' Anne O'Sullivan, from the UCU, said the alternative open day had been set up to "showcase the best of Coventry University", including speakers, artists and said staff whose jobs are at risk have been told they could apply for jobs at a subsidiary company - but she claimed they would lose pay progression and benefits and have to work longer O'Sullivan said cuts were being blamed on a drop in international students, but added: "They were over-reliant on that income stream. Other institutions didn't put all their eggs in one basket."She said the union remained in consultation with the university but industrial action was being university said it was with "significant disappointment that we have learned of UCU's intention to hold a protest rally deliberately targeting prospective students". 'No £100m deficit' A spokesperson sad that it respected the right to legitimate protest but was concerned this was "an extraordinary act of self-harm by the union given the clear link between student numbers, revenue and our ability to protect employment".The university was not "firing and rehiring", but creating new roles focused on teaching and student contact, without the expectations of research and innovation that come with traditional academic lecturer roles, he said student numbers and jobs had grown, but the student-staff ratio had to be sector was facing numerous challenges relating to Brexit, UK tuition fees, pension contributions and policies on international students, the spokesperson he added: "We have never posted a deficit of £100m." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
