THE BIGGEST Lotto jackpot in the history of the game was won at the weekend with a ticket bought in Carlow town.
The €32 Quickpick Plus ticket, which will net its owner or owners €18,963,441, was bought in Hickson’s Centra supermarket on the Staplestown Road.
PJ Hickson, co-owner of the supermarket, said yesterday he and his wife had been planning an early night on Saturday.
“We wanted to get a few things done on Sunday, go out for the day with the kids. But then we got a call from Lotto headquarters at about 11pm telling us we’d sold the winning ticket. Well that put the kibosh on the early night.
“I’d just heard the winning ticket had been sold in Carlow and then we got that call. We are all just stunned, amazed and delighted.”
Asked whether he had any idea who might have bought the winning ticket, he said he had “not an iota”. “There are so many rumours flying around. By the time we opened up this morning, three housing estates were being mentioned. Now about 10 are being named as the place where the winner lives.”
He said the fact that it was a €32 Quickpick ticket suggested it might be a syndicate. “Or it could be someone living in one of the villages outside the town. Or it could have been someone passing through. We’re on the main road to Rosslare, so the shop would be always busy with people on their way out.”
This is the third jackpot- winning ticket the supermarket has sold. “So we are a bit of a lucky shop I suppose. It’s great for the shop, great to get the publicity because you put a lot of work in giving customers a good product.”
Asked how his family reacted, he said: “We’re all delighted. My daughter Caoimhe was with me in the shop this morning all excited, going to be on the telly and everything. And it’s great for the town.”
Whoever owns the ticket or whoever has a share in it should sign the back of it immediately, advises Paula McEvoy, spokeswoman for the Lotto.
“They should sign it and that means their share is tax free. Then they should get in touch with us when they’re ready, though within 90 days, and we’ll advise them in whatever way they want or need.”
The winning numbers were 4, 12, 26, 27, 29, and 37, and the bonus number was 38.
