We won't be quitting work, say €13.7m Lotto winners
A delighted Co Mayo family who collected their €13,793,435 Lotto jackpot today say they won't be quitting their jobs.
The jackpot has been rolling since November 18, 2015, and is now one of the Top 10 Lotto jackpots won since the game began in 1988.
Today’s lucky family, who do not wish their identity to be revealed, declared themselves ‘really thrilled, and completely surprised’ by their win.
“We play Lotto all the time, and have had some small wins, but this is tremendous, and very unreal,” said the lucky wife at National Lottery offices in Dublin.
“We played a €10 Quick Pick ticket in Careys in Belmullet for the big jackpot on Saturday last.
“We’re really thrilled for Careys as well, and delighted that the biggest jackpot of the year came to Mayo.
“Normally, we play family numbers, but just because it was such a big jackpot, we decided to play a Quick Pick. Look what happened!”
Speaking with a glass of champagne in the Lottery Winner Suite, the lucky husband said: “We needed to check the ticket online so many times on Sunday evening, once we realised the winning ticket had been sold in Mayo, and then in Belmullet.
“It’s a small place, so we knew we had a sporting chance of being the lucky ones, but you really never, ever think that it will be you.”
The couple and their family have no immediate plans to spend large amounts of their fortune: they did reveal some plans, however.
“Top of the wish list for us as a family is a skiing holiday, as we’ve never been,” said the husband.
“Hopefully, we’ll be on the slopes and doing the apres- ski thing by this time next month!
“Obviously, we want to help family with mortgages and bills and what have you.
“And I want to go to the Euro finals in France later this year, so now I can afford to do that.”
The winning wife had some more prudent plans for the winnings.
“We’re going to bank the jackpot straight away, have a lovely celebratory dinner this weekend, and think about what we’re going to do,” she said.
“We both work fulltime, and don’t intend giving up our work.
“We do intend using this win to make our lives, and those of our families, more secure financially.
“It’s just great to know that there’s plenty available for a rainy day for everyone we care about.”
And celebrations continued in National Lottery offices when a jubilant couple from Co Galway collected their €120,319 Lotto Match 5+Bonus prize, from the Lotto draw on Wednesday, January 20.
The couple purchased their winning €5 Quick Pick ticket on the spur of the moment in Glynns Centra in Cranmore, Co Galway on the day of the draw.
As the couple sipped champagne in National Lottery offices, the winning wife said they were thrilled with the win.
“We’re so happy but still struggling to believe that this is actually happening,” she said.
“I was convinced my husband was joking when he first rang to tell me that we’d won – you don’t expect to get that call whilst you’re doing the housework!
“This win will make our life that little bit easier and help ease those everyday financial worries.
“I’ve decided to splash out a little today and treat myself to a trip to Ikea!”
The couple plan to use some of their winnings on home improvements and save the rest for their future together.
Friday’s EuroMillions jackpot is an estimated €130m.
To date the National Lottery has raised over €4.7 billion for good causes. This level of funding has made a significant difference to communities, projects and individuals in the areas of Youth, Sports, Recreation, Amenities, Health, Welfare, Arts, Culture, Environment, National Heritage and the Irish Language.
