2m£lady luck for Lotto first-timer from Arklow

A WOMAN from Arklow, who played the Lotto for the first time on Tuesday, evening, became the latest Lotto millionaire in Ireland…

A WOMAN from Arklow, who played the Lotto for the first time on Tuesday, evening, became the latest Lotto millionaire in Ireland when she collected a cheque for 1,957,305 £yesterday. Surrounded by family and friends sipping Champagne at the National Lottery headquarters in Dublin, Ms Sharon Walker (24) said she bought the lucky ticket in the Chocolate Box shop, Main Street, Arklow.

She asked the shopkeeper for a quick pick for the second panel of the 1.50 £ticket, after he pointed out she had filled in only one panel.

"I have never filled in a Lotto ticket before and it was the quick pick that won," she said. She learnt of her luck while watching the numbers been being called out draw on television. She was given the weekend off from work in Bray, where she works as an accountant in Eugene Magee Travel.The other winner, sharing the 3,914,609 £jackpot, is a woman from Dublin who bought her ticket in Ratoath, Co Meath, while visiting friends. She wishes to remain anonymous but describes herself "as a very lucky granny who intends to look after my family".