The owners of the shop which sold Friday’s €30.9 million EuroMillions lotto ticket hope the lucky winner is local, although that could mean they are from one of three counties.
The family-run service station on the border between Co Clare, Limerick and Tipperary sold Friday’s EuroMillions jackpot ticket worth €30,928,078.
The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold over a week ago on Sunday February 6th, at Larkin’s Gala Service Station in Garryurtneal, Ballina, Killaloe.
The lucky buyer of the ticket has become the 17th EuroMillions jackpot winner in Ireland.
Siobhán Larkin, who owns the shop with her husband Michael, said they were shocked and overjoyed when they received the good news over the weekend.
“When our visitors from the National Lottery arrived here on Sunday evening, I was totally overwhelmed and in quite a state of shock,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe that it was our store that sold the winning ticket worth €30.9 million. We are coming up to 21 years in business here this March so what a way this is to mark the occasion.”
Ms Larkin said the vast majority of their customers are locals, and they hoped that the winner might be a local too. “We wish them all the very best with their huge win.”
County lines
She also joked about the unique location of their service station. “It’s become a bit of a running joke now as to where the winning ticket was actually sold because of our unique border location – was it Clare, Limerick or Tipperary? As proud Tipperary people, we’ll be claiming the win for Tipp!”
Any retailer which sells a winning ticket receives a commission worth €25,000 and Ms Larkin said it is a huge boost for the community.
“I was at home on Sunday evening at about half-six, and I started to see all these lights and cars outside on the road. And at first I actually thought it was an accident or something, but then my husband came back in through the back door and said: ‘Open the front door, we’re after selling a Euromillions ticket!’ So I couldn’t move. I just froze. It was just unreal. I mean I couldn’t even turn the key in the front door - I just wasn’t able to. I was in such shock.”
“Already this evening, I’m seeing people coming into the shop who I’ve never seen before! But people are coming all day to congratulate us - friends and family. Because we had told nobody before this morning - we couldn’t disclose it on Sunday night. But it’s wonderful, it’s absolutely brilliant, especially in a small community area like this, halfway between Ballina and Birdhill. Because you know, the locals have been great to support us all the way down through the years, so you’d be hoping that the winner is one of those people who comes in to us regularly.”
The National Lottery is urging people to check their tickets, as one person who purchased their ticket at Larkin’s Gala Service Station now has a ticket worth €30,928,078.
The winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to keep it in a safe place.
The player should make contact with the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800-666222 or email claims@lottery.ie, and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize.