A Dublin family took home a staggering €14.67 million cheque from the National Lottery headquarters on Monday, attributing their monumental win to a spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase a ticket. This tremendous windfall was secured after the family syndicate participated in the January 27 draw, with their entry coming from an online purchase just minutes before the deadline.
A family member recounted the impromptu nature of their decision to log onto the Lotto website and buy a ticket, a move that would soon change their lives. “To be honest, the ticket purchase was totally last minute,” they said. “We only thought of it by chance after 7pm that evening, so it was a bit of a rush to make sure we logged on and got the ticket before the 7.30pm deadline. There wasn’t a chance that any of us was going to make a dash to the shop at that stage, so we have definitely learned one of the benefits of playing online.”
Despite experiencing the exhilarating transformation of becoming millionaires overnight, the family maintains that they have kept their win discreet and haven’t lost their composure. “We realized on the night of the draw that we won. I checked the ticket first and then I think I might have been speechless for a few minutes. When I eventually got my words back, I was quick to share the news and the utter surprise.”
The initial shock of their victory took some time to subside, but surprisingly, the family member disclosed that sleep was not an issue amid the thrill. “The shock did take a bit of time to wear off but shockingly, I actually didn’t have a problem sleeping that night – it must have been all the excitement. I can only speak for myself though! Ever since then, we have been looking forward to visiting the Winners Room and collecting the cheque to see that huge amount in writing.”
Visiting the Winners Room at the National Lottery headquarters was a surreal experience for the family. Seeing the enormous sum printed on the cheque added to the reality of their life-changing win. The excitement and anticipation had been building up ever since they realized their good fortune, making the moment they received the cheque even more special.
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However, the Dublin family isn’t the only one celebrating at Lotto HQ this week. A winner from Tipperary also claimed their own significant prize, collecting a cheque worth €500,000 after winning big in the EuroMillions Plus draw on February 16. Their ticket was purchased at the Circle K on Kickham Street in Thurles, Tipperary.
The Tipperary winner shared their own story of disbelief and cautious hope as they awaited confirmation of their win. “I checked the ticket on the night of the draw and immediately got the You’ve won Big message, which I had never seen before. I checked the results straight away and initially got a little confused about whether I needed to have the lucky stars or not, so I was half doubting myself, convinced that there was no way that this could be real.”
Realization dawned when they noticed they had all five numbers required for the Plus game, confirming their win. “And then, of course, I could see I had all five numbers needed in the Plus game, so I knew. Since it was a Friday night, I had to wait all weekend before I could contact Claims to confirm my win and make arrangements, so it was a weekend of holding on to my ticket and waiting to make that all-important call. I don’t play often, but I sure am glad I did this time.”
Both winners have been inundated with well-wishes and congratulations, but they remain grounded and are considering their next steps carefully. The Dublin family has chosen to keep their newfound wealth low-key, reflecting on their life-changing opportunity and planning how to best utilize their winnings.
For the National Lottery, these win stories bring positivity and excitement, encouraging more people to try their luck. With every draw, there is always the potential for dreams to come true, as evidenced by the spontaneous decision that led a Dublin family to a fortune.
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