Lottery first-timer's $551,575 winner nearly ended up in trash

Oct 14, 2019, 8:27 pm (5 comments)

Euro Millions

An Ireland man who bought his first-ever lottery ticket said the $551,575 winner nearly ended up in the trash at his local store.

The Dublin dad was thanking his lucky stars today in the Ireland National Lottery Winner's Room as he claimed his check for €500,000 (US$551,575), which was a top prize won in the EuroMillions Plus draw on Tuesday, October 8.

His winning Quick Pick ticket was bought at the Centra store on Grange Road in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

And he revealed that while he has no plans set in stone for the winnings just yet, he said that he was going to surprise his daughter and show her the check at the dinner table tonight.

The Ireland Lottery did not release the winner's name.

Speaking at Ireland Lottery headquarters as he picked up his winnings, the anonymous winner said, "I was with my daughter last Tuesday in a queue in the shop and she was buying a ticket and she suggested I get one as the EuroMillions jackpot was €190 million.

"I had never bought a lottery ticket in my life so I just got what she got. I put it in my wallet and it was there until this morning. I never thought of checking it until I was in another shop and was speaking to the guy behind the counter when I pulled out the ticket.

"He told me the big prize was won over in the UK so I was about to throw it in the bin. I just scanned it in the machine and it told me to contact the National Lottery.

"I just ran out of the shop and rang the wife. She left work and we checked the numbers and surely enough the numbers all matched!"

He continued, "I cannot believe my luck — it's the very definition of beginners luck. Imagine if I had just threw the ticket away? To be honest, I don't think the news has sunken in just yet.

"We only discovered our win a couple of hours ago and now I'm sitting here with a €500,000 check in my hands. It's all a bit mad, isn't it?"

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

music*'s avatarmusic*

Beginner's Luck!  and The Luck of the Irish! 

 $551,575.00 the winner sounds very grateful. Too bad it was not the jackpot 190 million Euros.

  I agree, "It's all a bit mad, Isn't it?"

Bleudog101

That was a close call, phew!

 

On another subject, just received an email from the Mississippi lottery...they're going to sell their first tickets 25 NOV 19.   WTG MS lottery and of course IGT!

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Oct 14, 2019

Beginner's Luck!  and The Luck of the Irish! 

 $551,575.00 the winner sounds very grateful. Too bad it was not the jackpot 190 million Euros.

  I agree, "It's all a bit mad, Isn't it?"

Congrats to the lucky winner.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Congrats to the lucky anonymous  winner.

Lucky in two ways. One that he won, and two that he checked the ticket and didn't throw it in the trash.

dannyct

The best policy is to remain anonymous. Once your win is publicly known, requests for "help" from friends and family, flood in. This is before crazy strangers try to get in touch.

End of comments
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