Ireland's latest lottery millionaires were busy celebrating last night and, it seemed, the whole town of Birr in Co Offaly was helping.
Since discovering their good fortune on Saturday night, Michael "Mouse" Kelly and his wife, Ann, had invited a huge extended family and a large number of friends to join them in local pubs and restaurants, and the party was still in full swing late last night.
The couple won the full £4.1 million in Saturday's roll-over jackpot, two days after making the first £40 payment on their council house. Mr Kelly is unemployed and, according to his family, has never had a fulltime job. He is working on a FAS course, renovating a local soccer pitch.
The couple could not be contacted last night. But Donna Kelly (16), one of their five children, including 12-year-old twins, had retired early from the celebrations and was acting as family spokeswoman.
The win had already benefited local children, she said. Her mother had treated "about 90" young cousins to a meal yesterday, she said, and took another 100 children "from around the street" to a restaurant in the town. "She loves kids," Donna explained.
Mr Kelly rang the local Garda station for advice when he learned he was the sole winner of £4 million. The gardai advised him to contact his bank manager, but Donna was unsure whether the winning ticket was in a safe in the Garda station or the bank.
