In case there was any doubt, the small country of Ireland is officially the luckiest place in the world presently.
The country is currently in the midst of an incredible and unprecedented run of lottery winners and the excitement in the air is palpable.
A record jackpot win two weeks ago caught the attention of virtually everybody in the country. In the days that have followed since we keep receiving announcements of major lottery winners in Ireland.
Below is a timeline of the latest chapter in a special Lottery Edition of “The Luck of the Irish.”
February 19
This was the announcement on February 19 that kicked off all the excitement. In fact there were so many people checking their lottery plays in its wake that Ireland’s official Lottery App temporarily crashed from all of the traffic.
As it turns out, the family syndicate who eventually claimed the big prize was watching the evening news on the night of the draw and discovered they were in possession of the winning ticket.
February 20
photo credit: Marty Whelan
The record Euromillions win was the biggest story everywhere you looked in Ireland. Newspapers, Radio and Television all had something to say about the massive win. The story was the biggest trending topic on Twitter.
Staff at Reilly’s Daybreak in Naul celebrate selling the record breaking ticket | photo credit: Irish National Lottery
The media descended on the shop that sold the winning ticket in Naul.
Unbeknownst to everybody, the “Naul Family Syndicate” were watching the media swarm around their neighbourhood as they inconspicuously boarded a bus en route to to bringing the winning ticket into the lottery office. (We heard this part of the story one week later during an exclusive interview on the Sean O’Rourke radio program.)
The Irish Lotto jackpot rolls over again in anticipation of the February 23 draw
Meanwhile…
The Irish Lotto jackpot with an estimated jackpot of €9.5 million comes and goes without a winner for the 18th consecutive draw. The jackpot rolls above €10 million for the first time in over 2 years.
February 23
The Irish Lotto drought ends. And just like that we have another big winner!
February 25
photo credit: Irish National Lottery
Spar on O’Connell Street in Dublin is announced as the seller of winning ticket for the amazing €10.2 million Irish Lotto jackpot on February 23.
February 26
photo credit: Brian McDaid
85 year old Charlie Meehan, a retired Donegal farmer arrives at Irish Lotto headquarters to claim the €500,000 prize he won in the Euromillions draw. His story is an inspiring one – in 2012 he spent almost a year in hospital as a result of cancer before a complete recovery. He told the Donegal Democrat newspaper that his real wealth comes from his health more than anything.
February 28
photo credit: Irish National Lottery
The Naul Family Syndicate arrive at Lottery HQ to pick up their big win. National Lottery CEO Dermot Griffin is seen here holding the big presentation cheque.
Syndicate spokesperson, Gerry Brown, said the family is now looking forward to getting on with their lives after what has been an exciting week.
He said: “This is life-changing for all of the family and we are absolutely thrilled. We have spent the last week getting independent legal and financial advice, and our win is slowly sinking in. We are a very close family and this is a dream come true for us. We want this win to change our lives in a positive way.”
March 1
Naul Family Syndicate spokesperson does a single media interview on the Sean O’Rourke show.
CLICK HERE to listen to it here if you are interested.
Meanwhile…
Euromillions delivers yet another big winner from Ireland!
March 2
photo credit: Irish National Lottery
Centra on Chapel Road, Dromiskin, is revealed as the seller of the winning ticket €500,000 #EuroMillions Plus ticket
Meanwhile…
ANOTHER Irish Lottery Millionaire is created!
And ANOTHER!
This time it is the Irish Lotto Jackpot that is won by a single ticket.
Congratulations to all of these big winners.
What a fortnight it was.
Will the luck keep flowing out of Ireland? St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon after all.
Good luck to everybody playing the Irish Lotto right now hoping to catch some of the luck of the Irish.
Keep those big wins coming!