The joint owner of the Limerick shop that sold a winning Lotto jackpot ticket worth €11.1 million has hilariously told how the first thing staff did after learning of the win was “frantically check our own tickets”.
However, they soon found out that it “unfortunately” wasn’t any of them - but accepted that finding out that the lucky ticket was sold in their store “was the next best thing to winning the jackpot”.
Lotto bosses have this morning confirmed that the life-changing ticket was sold at family-run local store, Kelly’s Costcutter in Foynes, which is located on Main Street in the heart of the town.
They have also revealed that the lucky ticket holder has now come forward and began the process for claiming their prize. They have contacted the National Lottery Prize Claims Team and arrangements are now being made for them to collect their winnings.
The winner scooped the mammoth €11,106,438 jackpot prize with a Quick Pick ticket, which was sold on the day of the draw, Wednesday, January 4.
Kelly’s Costcutter is operated by brother and sister duo Eoin and Trisha, who took over the business from their parents, Vincent and Breda in 2018.
Speaking after hearing of the big win in their family store, co-owner, Trisha said: “Honestly, we just cannot believe it! We heard the news on Thursday morning that the winning ticket was sold in Limerick, but we didn’t know it was in our store. With the excitement, we frantically checked our own tickets, but it wasn’t us unfortunately. A couple of hours later, I received a call from the National Lottery to tell me that we’ve sold the winning ticket and hearing those words - it was the next best thing to winning the jackpot – it’s incredible!”
The Kelly family are no strangers to seeing their customers enjoy large lottery success following a €9.6 million EuroMillions win in their store in 2006.
“Big lottery wins are always a huge boost to local stores and their communities and Foynes is no different. When we had the big EuroMillions win in 2006, it was literally all the local community could talk about for months and it was just fantastic. We are a tight knit area here and I would guess that the majority of our customers are local. I know that the entire community will be thrilled for the winner, whoever it is.
“While the entire town will be celebrating here today, my brother Eoin, who I run the business with is currently on holidays in Florida. His timing could not have been worse, and I know he is gutted to miss out on the celebrations!” she added.
Ireland’s latest winner becomes the 19th Lotto millionaire in the past 12 months.
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