A family who run a pub in Ireland's luckiest Lotto town have dispelled rumours that a syndicate from the bar won the record €19 million jackpot.
The winner of the country's biggest-ever Lotto prize remains unknown and has still not claimed the life-changing sum.
The prize, which had been rolling for six months, was scooped by a player or players in Castlebar, Co Mayo who matched all six numbers in the January 15 game.
While the ticketolder(s) have made contact with the National Lottery, even bosses in Lotto HQ don't even know whether it was an individual or group behind the win.
Rumours began swirling in the days after the draw that a syndicate from the Bungalow Bar in Castlebar had won the massive prize.
However, John Scott, who manages the pub with his family, said the truth is that the bar's syndicate of 39 members had to settle with a €33 win rather than €19 million.
When asked by the Irish Mirror if Bungalow Bar had scooped the record prize, he said: "I'm afraid not.
"It just got blown out of proportion. We were caught on the hop on Sunday morning after the Lotto.
"A man just came in and asked to use the bathroom, but he was from RTE and he asked us to do an interview outside with [RTE reporter] Eileen Magnier.
"We kind of hesitated at first but then we said we would do it and it got blown out of all proportion outside with everyone thinking we had won but we hadn't even checked our tickets by then."
John said the interview prompted people to believe the pub was part of the win and locals began beeping horns as they passed by.
The syndicate had entered the record draw and spent around €190 on tickets but only reaped a €33 reward on the night.
"The Sunday here was mental with people calling in here thinking we had won it," he said.
"It was good aul craic for a while but we're getting fed up of it now.
"People have been posting stupid stuff and joking about the National Lottery headquarters and things like that but it's a bit of craic."
John added that he has no idea of the true identity of the €19 million ticketholder and he doubts the winner will ever be revealed.
"They'll definitely keep quiet or they would be plagued I'd say," he said.
"There's a rumour of a lad, 19 or 20 [who won], but those are just rumours.
"There's a lot of millionaires from the Lotto around town and no one knows who they are.
"No one ever found out who won the millions around Castlebar so they're very good in this area for hiding money!"
