A palpable wave of excitement sweeps through EuroMillions enthusiasts across Ireland as the upcoming Friday night draw promises a gargantuan jackpot of €130 million. The jackpot, confirmed to be a Mega Draw by the National Lottery, ensures a nine-figure sum that stands untouched by the results of the previous draw.
For lottery lovers and dreamers, the Mega Draw presents an opportunity akin to a fairy-tale ending. The unique aspect of these draws, when compared to standard ones, is merely the magnitude of the jackpot on offer. Those harboring hopes of striking it rich must simply present a valid EuroMillions ticket on the night of the draw to stand a chance to claim the colossal prize.
In light of the draw coinciding with the St. Patrick’s bank holiday weekend, the National Lottery has issued a recommendation for participants to secure their tickets without delay. Avenues to purchase tickets include physical stores, the National Lottery mobile app, and the official website at www.lottery.ie, with sales drawing to a close at 7:30 pm on the eve of the Mega Draw.
A spokesperson for the National Lottery projected visions of an unforgettable bank holiday, fueled by the possibilities of an Irish player snagging the €130 million jackpot, which would signify the first EuroMillions jackpot win in Ireland for 2024. With the draw nearing, the spokesperson reiterated the importance of purchasing tickets before the cut-off time, emphasizing the variety of platforms available for ticket acquisition.
Since the introduction of EuroMillions to Irish shores in 2004, we’ve seen 17 joyous jackpot victories by players in Ireland. Should the upcoming draw result in an Irish winner, it would add another chapter to the growing legend of Irish EuroMillions success stories. Here, we recount the fortunate individuals and groups who have previously hit it big:
1. In July 2005, Dolores McNamara from Limerick set the precedent as Ireland’s first—and to date, largest—EuroMillions winner, with an astonishing €115 million.
2. Fast forward to July 2008, and fortune found its way to Co. Tipperary, where a €15 million prize was secured by a fortunate individual.
3. June 2009 witnessed a triumphant family syndicate share in over €29.4 million, a prize co-claimed with a British counterpart.
4. Four years later, in June 2013, a Dublin resident won half of a €187 million jackpot, netting over €93 million from a ticket purchased in Beaumont.
5. Only months later, in September 2013, a young man from the South East enjoyed his share of over €25 million, taking home more than €12.8 million.
6. April 2014 brought joy to Castlebar with a €15 million winning ticket being sold at Staunton’s Costcutter Express.
7. A Dublin syndicate had a September to remember in 2014 with an €86.7 million win from a ticket sold in Ballybrack.
8. Beginning 2016 with a bang, a friendly syndicate cashed in over €66 million from a ticket sold in Carlow.
9. The year 2016 continued to be favorable with Dublin Bus colleagues gleefully splitting a €23.8 million prize in July.
10. A Dublin work syndicate claimed a €88.5 million jackpot in January 2017, a winning ticket stemming from Lusk.
11. The West of Ireland syndicate enjoyed a bountiful July 2017, winning €29 million.
12. A snug family syndicate in Dublin secured €38.9 million in December 2017.
13. Stakelums Hardware store colleagues formed a winning team in June 2018, sharing €17 million.
14. February 2019 yielded an enormous €175.4 million win for the Naul Family Syndicate.
15. In February 2020, a family from Co. Mayo shared a €17 million jackpot.
16. An online Dublin player turned a €2.50 normal play into €49.5 million in July 2020.
17. And, most recently, a Mid-West Quick Pick ticket purchaser took home €30.9 million in February 2022.
As Ireland braces for the possibility of a new addition to the list of EuroMillions winners, the anticipation and hope amongst players reach fever pitch levels. The prospect of becoming an overnight multimillionaire this Friday is not just a pipe dream—the EuroMillions Mega Draw is a testament to the life-altering potential that a simple lottery ticket can hold.
