Who Are Ireland’s Biggest EuroMillions Winners?
Irish players have grabbed some large EuroMillions jackpots since the game began in 2004, making them rich beyond their wildest dreams and allowing them to make big plans for the future. But who are the biggest winners from the Emerald Isle, did they all go public and what did they want to do with their new-found wealth?
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€115 Million - 29th July 2005
Ireland had only been participating in EuroMillions for a few months when Dolores McNamara, a mother-of-six from Limerick, won this gigantic jackpot. At the time it was the largest prize to have been offered on the game, and it has remained the biggest payout in Irish lottery history for more than a decade. McNamara was able to give up her cleaning job, splash out on a new BMW and enjoy holidays to Spain, Turkey, New York and Cambodia. She moved into a €1.2 million home in County Clare, complete with six en-suite bedrooms, swimming pool and half-mile-long entrance drive, while she also bought houses in the area for her children.
€93 Million - 25th June 2013
This lucky ticket holder got their hands on half of a €187 million jackpot, splitting the money with a player from Belgium. The winner came forward just over a week later and opted to stay anonymous, but they did release a short statement through the National Lottery, saying: “I’m absolutely thrilled. Dreams do come true! The news is still sinking in so for the moment I’d like to keep the win private. I’m looking forward to thinking about all the opportunities that are now open to me. It’s a really exciting time!”
€88 Million - 24th January 2017
A syndicate of work colleagues from Dublin teamed up to match all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars in early 2017, allowing them to ‘look forward to the financial freedom that comes with a win of this magnitude’. They bought their ticket from the Applegreen service station in Lusk and one member of the group quickly checked their numbers after hearing the jackpot had been won in Ireland. Describing it as an ‘incredible feeling’ which left them ‘speechless’, the syndicate added that they would have a quiet party with friends and family and then ‘return to normal everyday life as soon as possible’.
€86 Million - 19th September 2014
Another Dublin syndicate scooped €86 million on 19th September 2014, having staked just €6 on a Quick Pick ticket. The big win sparked speculation over the identity of the ticket holder, but the lucky group decided to keep private. Speaking at National Lottery headquarters, they just said: “We’re on top of the world.” The winning entry was sold at the Centra Store on Church Road in Ballybrack, and the store manager David Whelan said it was a ‘fantastic’ feeling to have played some part in the story.
€66 Million - 29th January 2016
A group of friends bought one of two winning tickets for this draw in January 2016, sharing a top prize of €132 million with a participant from France. The syndicate purchased a €15 Quick Pick a couple of days before the draw took place, and were stunned to discover they had won. Opting to remain anonymous, they said it was a ‘life-changing’ amount and added: “This is by any standards, enormous good fortune. We are completely dumbstruck to have won this fantastic prize.”
Who’ll Be The Next Big Winner?
It could well be that Dolores McNamara is knocked off the top of the list in the near future, with big jackpots up for grabs every week on Tuesdays and Fridays. You need to be in it to win it though, and you can take part in the next draw by either entering online or visiting an authorised retailer in Ireland. Good luck!
14th February 2019
