Locals in Ireland’s luckiest town have joked that landing the biggest ever €19million jackpot was some consolation after the county’s GAA heartbreak – and the winner could now “buy Sam”.
Mayo were beaten All-Ireland football finalists last September and in 2020, and have now lost 11 finals since 1989 – and six in the last nine years.
But in contrast, there were huge celebrations in Castlebar as staff outside Laura’s XL store, which sold the winning ticket, toasted the triumph with bubbly.
Owner Laura Scriney, 29, said: “It’s great and I’m delighted.
“This is the biggest ever and it’ll go down in history.
“With all the rumours going around and the different shops mentioned I never expected it would be here.
“So, it’s great, there was a massive sense of shock and I didn’t get much sleep last night. I opened in September 2019 and then November 2019 we had a Winning Streak contestant, which was great.
“Then last July we had a €60,000 winner on Telly Bingo so that was fantastic as well.
“We were building to the big one.”
There was one winner of Saturday’s “must-win” National Lottery Jackpot as the life-changing sum was scooped for the first time in seven months.
It is understood a Mayo syndicate landed the €19million after buying a Quick Pick hours before the draw. A man made contact with National Lottery HQ on Tuesday and he was advised to sign the back of the ticket and get legal and financial advice.
Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who said the win had given the area a huge lift, agreed it was some consolation for Castlebar and Mayo to scoop the monster pot.
He said: “Some of them are saying we’re the luckiest town in Europe and sure we are when it comes to money but money isn’t everything and we’d like to see Sam as well.
“The winner won’t care whether they see Sam or not, they’ll be able to buy Sam.
“It won’t make up for it [the losses] but the rest of us would like to see Sam.”
The jackpot has undoubtedly made Castlebar Ireland’s luckiest town – with four jackpot winners landing a total of €80million since 2014.
Laura revealed she has been through a rollercoaster of emotions as her granny Bridie Scriney sadly died on January 11 and was buried last Thursday.
She added: “It’s been an emotional week and we’re kind of thinking she might have done something for us.
“You know the same lady would and God rest her.
“My grandmother was 95, she lived a great life you know but you’re still never ready to see them go.
“She would want me to be [happy].”
Laura, speaking about the store’s €15,000 prize for selling the ticket, said: “I don’t know yet how I’ll spend it, I’m just going to let it soak in and look after the staff and see how we go from there.”
