In an astonishing turn of events, a Laois native has catapulted into the limelight after securing a massive win in the EuroMillions Plus draw. Kevin Doheny, who hails from Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois, clinched the impressive €500,000 prize in the EuroMillions draw held on May 14. His path to victory was as unexpected as it was fortuitous, beginning with an impulse decision that changed his life overnight.
Doheny recounted his spur-of-the-moment choice to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket just a day before the draw, while watching television. “Something just came over me to go and buy a ticket for the draw that evening,” Doheny said. “I jumped straight in the car and got my ticket but of course, didn’t think anything else of it.” The ticket was left in his car overnight, only for him to rediscover it the next day and believe he might be dreaming. “I was wondering was I in the right car because I thought I just had to be seeing things.”
The shock didn’t end there. Doheny swiftly returned to Daybreak in Borris-in-Ossory, the store where he had purchased the ticket, to verify whether he actually held the golden ticket. “The lady on the counter got some shock too, as I’m sure they don’t see these big wins all the time either!” she rang the Claims Department to confirm the win and thus began a whirlwind of a morning for Kevin.
Family disbelief followed the initial rush of excitement. Kevin, accompanied by several of his siblings to the National Lottery HQ in Dublin, shared that his family initially struggled to accept the news. “As soon as I got in the door, I rang my sister who was on holiday in America at the time,” he recalled. His sister, who was startled by the early morning call due to the time difference, took some convincing. “I think it probably took her a while to believe me but then as if by perfect timing, a message came into the family Whatsapp group saying that someone in Borris-in-Ossary won big in the draw the night before.”
As local radio buzzed about the winning ticket sold in their town, the reality of the win started to sink in for his family. “I replied immediately by saying ‘It’s me who won the €500,000’.
. I had to go back into convincing mode then for the rest of them and eventually, they all believed me,” Kevin noted, adding that the response from friends and the local community has been overwhelmingly supportive.
Despite his newfound wealth, Kevin is taking his time to decide what he will do next. While he mentioned that a family celebration is on the horizon, he has no immediate plans for the winnings.
The timing of Kevin’s win adds extra excitement to an already thrilling week for EuroMillions players. This Friday’s upcoming draw boasts a staggering guaranteed jackpot of €130 million. Since Ireland joined the EuroMillions game in 2004, 17 Irish players have claimed the jackpot. Should Friday’s draw yield another Irish winner, they would become the 18th to do so.
So far this year, the EuroMillions game has been exceedingly generous to Irish players, with 11 individuals claiming life-changing prizes. Among these, the EuroMillions Plus top prize of €500,000 has been won ten times, medals spread across Dublin (3), Tipperary, Cork, Wicklow (2), Kilkenny, Laois, and Kildare. In addition to these prestigious wins, a player from Cork scored €1,005,000 in the special Ireland Only Raffle in May.
Sarah Orr, a spokesperson for the National Lottery, shared her thoughts ahead of Friday’s eagerly anticipated draw: “It’s already been a big year for EuroMillions players in Ireland and this Friday’s draw could make it even bigger! A EuroMillions player in Ireland could have a Friday night to remember with a guaranteed €130 million jackpot up for grabs.”
Orr encouraged hopeful participants to dream big and reminded them to get their tickets: “If a player in Ireland was to win this massive amount, they would take the title of 18th Irish EuroMillions jackpot winner since the game launched in Ireland in 2004. Players dreaming of being the next EuroMillions winner to pick up their cheque in Lotto HQ are reminded that tickets can be purchased nationwide in-store, through our app and at www.lottery.ie ahead of the 7.30pm cut-off time for sales on Friday evening.”
Stay connected with Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp for updates, special offers, promotions, and the latest headlines direct to your phone. The community can leave at any time, and further details are available in the Privacy Notice.
