We’ve all heard about the luck of the Irish. But just how true is it as an idea?
Well, we’re certainly fortunate to live in a very beautiful country which might just be perfect if only it didn’t rain quite so often. And, on the financial side of things, when we look at some of the biggest wins ever on the lottery, it would seem that we are pretty fortunate as a nation.
As recently reported in The Independent, often lottery winners do choose to remain anonymous, but we still get to know about the sizes of their wins. Here are the big five.
For anyone who might like to join them, then somewhere like Lottoland Ireland could be a good place to start.
It gives access to lotteries not just in Ireland but also all around the world, and while the prizes might not be quite this high, it has already made many players very happy in the past.
€19 million, 15th January 2022 – a big win
This was the culmination of the lottery that seemed like it would never be won. Week after week, from June 2021 onwards, the top prize went unclaimed.
It was announced that if no one won outright, the money would be shared between players a level down. But one very lucky, and now very rich, person from Co. Mayo snatched the prize.
€18.9 million, 28th June 2008 – setting records
This set the record for a win back in 2008 when it was claimed by a syndicate and was shared out 16 ways.
The winners all worked in a quarry and concrete plant in Co. Carlow and included a father and his daughter as well as two sets of brothers. Incredibly, some of the winners even turned up for work on the Monday following their win.
€16.7 million, 14th April 2010 – a deserving winner
In this case, it was just a single ticket that won and came at the end of a series of rollovers. Although the winners asked to remain anonymous, they did reveal their win to Pat Whyte, the owner of the store, before going on to claim it.
Mr Whyte also reported that this big win could not have happened to a nicer individual.
€16.3 million, 23rd October 2010 – a win in Dublin
A few months later, that win was almost equalled by a winner in Dublin. This time the ticket had been bought by a man in the Donnybrook Fair supermarket.
It was only because the big jackpot was on offer that the winner decided to buy a €30 ticket. However, in doing so, he became the national lottery’s 400th millionaire since its launch some six years earlier.
€16.1 million, 28th July 2007 – a win for the family
The Cunningham family from Cork hit it lucky with a €4 Quick Pick and turned up by coach with their five children to claim the prize from the lottery HQ. It’s thought they splashed out on a taxi home.
So, while the new Lotto rules mean that we’re unlikely to break the record again, there are still plenty of reasons to play. So put on your lucky socks and keep your fingers crossed!
