Two Co Cavan residents who yesterday collected the March 31st Lotto jackpot of almost €5 million nearly threw away the winning ticket before double-checking the numbers.
The winners, who declined to give their names, purchased the Quick Pick with LottoPlus ticket on the day of the draw at Hannigan's, Main Street, Cootehill, Co Cavan.
"It was Sunday, April 1st when we checked the numbers," said one of the winners at the National Lottery headquarters in Dublin yesterday. "I was about to tear up the ticket when I thought I should check again. Lo and behold, there were the six numbers."
The other winner said: "I nearly died of shock - I just kept reading the numbers again and again in the newspaper. It's really hard to believe. We had a 'match five' win of about €800 years ago and we thought that all of our luck had gone with that."
The new millionaires said they both planned to keep working, although they conceded that they would take longer holidays.
Also yesterday, a Wicklow man collected a smaller win of €111,933 from the EuroMillions draw last Friday. His €2 Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Earl's, Abbey Street, Wicklow on the day of the draw.