The moment the shop that sold the winning €250m EuroMillions ticket found out
A staff member at the store that sold the winning €250 million EuroMillions ticket joked that he thought it was a wind-up when the phone call came through from the National Lottery this week.
Having drip-fed information about the momentous win since Tuesday night's draw - first that it was won in Munster, then that it was sold in Cork - on Friday morning, the National Lottery revealed that the ticket was sold at Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street in Cork city centre in the days before the draw.
The National Lottery released a brief snippet of the phone call with an as yet unidentified staff member confirming the news on social media on Friday morning.
Having been told the news, the staff member replied: 'Ah this is a wind up, is it? You're joking me.'
Asked how it felt to be the store that sold the ticket for the biggest jackpot win in EuroMillions history, he replied: 'Ah, that's great news. I'm just gutted it wasn't me that bought it!'
The historic win marks a first for the Rebel County and is the largest prize ever claimed in Ireland since EuroMillions launched here in 2004. It is also the 18th time an Irish player has landed the jackpot.
After days of speculation and excitement, the National Lottery confirmed that the lucky winner has made contact with their Prize Claims team, officially ending the guessing game.
Spokesperson Emma Monaghan said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have heard from our EuroMillions winner. At this point, our priority is to give them the necessary time and space to make arrangements and let this life-changing news sink in."
A photocall will take place at Clifford's Centra at 11am Friday morning - follow live updates here.
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READ MORE ON LOTTO NEWS But he said if winners do not want their identities revealed, the Lottery ensures that the name does not get out into the public arena. He said they were unable to contact the owner Ted Clifford to inform him his Centra store had sold the winning ticket, but they did tell the store manager Simon Champ, who initially reacted with disbelief. Once convinced by the caller that it was true he was delighted. Long-time customer Noreen Kenny, who lives across the road from the store, said she was thrilled for everyone. Most read in Money She has been shopping since she was a small child and revealed this was the third generation member to run the store. The 76-year-old beamed: 'I am so delighted for them, Ted is such a dote. Penneys 'Lotto Lovelies' collect huge cheque at National Lottery HQ "He is lovely as are all his staff who just can't do enough to help customers. 'If you have heavy things they get the young fellas to bring them over for you. "Or people getting their packs of coal are helped home with it. 'The shop is well worth supporting. It has been here for donkey's years.' Noreen said that she posed in a press photo with staff as champagne corks were popping. She laughed and said: 'If any one sees me on the telly they will think I won it. "I did the Lotto and won €5 and I've just done it now for Friday. 'I do hope the winner is someone that needs it. I hope they will help the homeless with it.' 'TOO MUCH' One of the longest serving staff members is Anne O'Sullivan, who has been at Clifford's for over 26 years, and said she hopes a syndicate has won the millions as the amount is too much money for one person. She explained: 'It's fantastic and if it is a local person that's great but if it's a syndicate and the money is shared it would change many people's lives. 'In any case I hope it is someone we know who needs it. 'We open at 6am every morning. 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'I was convinced it was a wind-up but then they sounded pretty certain. 'Today is about the excitement. We are obviously delighted for the person who won it. "And we just want to enjoy the moment with our customers and our staff.' Over 30 people are employed at the store and plans are underway to have a big celebration in the coming weeks. Irish EuroMillions jackpot winners HERE's all the Irish EuroMillions jackpot winners to date. 1. July 2005: Dolores McNamara from Limerick, was Ireland's first and biggest EuroMillions winner scooping over €115 million. 2. July 2008: A lucky player from Co. Tipperary won a €15 million jackpot with a ticket bought in Carrick-on-Suir in Co Tipperary. 3. June 2009: A family syndicate shared the jackpot with a British winner, taking home over €29.4 million with a ticket they purchased in Dublin. 4. June 2013: A winning ticket sold in Beaumount, Dublin, shared a EuroMillions jackpot worth over €187 million. 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July 2017: A syndicate from the West of Ireland won a €29 million EuroMillions jackpot. The ticket was sold in Garryduff XL Store on Pound Road, Castlebar in Co Mayo. 12. December 2017: A small family syndicate from Dublin won €38.9 million on a ticket purchased in The Village Shop in Malahide Shopping Centre. 13. June 2018: 32 colleagues from Stakelums Hardware store in Thurles share a €17 million EuroMillions jackpot with a ticket they purchased at Eason's Store in Thurles Shopping Centre in Co. Tipperary. 14. February 2019: The Naul Family Syndicate won €175.4 million on a ticket sold in Reilly's Daybreak in Naul, Co Dublin. 15. February 2020: A Co Mayo family shared the €17 million jackpot with a ticket they purchased at Mulroy's Londis Store in Castlebar. 16. July 2020: An online player in Dublin won a €49.5 million jackpot which they won with a €2.50 normal play ticket. 17. 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