County Cavan is celebrating in the aftermath of an extraordinary run of festive luck after two major lottery wins landed within weeks of each other, providing life-changing sums just a few days before Christmas.
A modest shop bet turned into a five-figure payday, and a multimillion-euro EuroMillions jackpot ticket was bought. The county has now, unexpectedly, secured its reputation as Ireland’s hotspot for good fortune.
The first of the celebrations happened to a BOYLE Sports customer who placed a €10 wager and won €16,000 in the Daily Millions draw. The anonymous punter placed a bet at a local shop, selecting four numbers and beating the odds of 1,600/1 when the sequence 1, 3, 4 and 6 was drawn. The bonus ball sealed the payout.
Success stories like this one from BOYLE Sports are what keep Irish players coming back to games of chance like the lotto and casino games, both online and in-store. Many are exploring regulated Ireland sites, knowing that these platforms have strict licensing regulations, promote responsible gambling, prioritise customer protections, and securely manage player funds. Digital play is increasing alongside traditional retail tickets, and regulation is important to maintain trust and fairness in Ireland’s gambling sector.
A spokesperson for BOYLE Sports praised the winner, saying: “We offer huge congratulations to our customer in Cavan who pulled a Christmas cracker with their Lotto numbers. Their ambitious thinking paid off, and we hope they enjoy every cent.” The win made it feel like Christmas had come early in the country, but there was bigger news to come.
The headline moment happened when the National Lottery confirmed that the €17 million EuroMillions jackpot was won by someone from Cavan. The ticket matched all five numbers (7, 25, 30, 37, and 41) as well as Lucky Stars 5 and 11. It is Ireland’s second EuroMillions jackpot win of the year.
The winning Quick Pick ticket was bought on the day of the draw at a Lidl store in Creighan on Athlone Road. The winner had yet to come forward at the time of writing.
National Lottery spokesperson Darragh O’Dwyer said: “We’re delighted to confirm that the €17 million EuroMillions jackpot winning ticket was sold in County Cavan. This incredible win comes at a special time of the year and is sure to be a huge Christmas surprise for the winner.” He also encouraged players to check their tickets, to sign the back of the winning slip, and to keep it safe.
Lidl Ireland shared in the excitement. Corporate Affairs Director Eimear O’Sullivan said the company was “absolutely thrilled” to have sold the winning ticket. She said the atmosphere was “electric” and gave staff some excitement before heading into the holiday season.
The EuroMillions win is Cavan’s second millionaire in two weeks, after a €1 million Daily Million win at the end of November. Tens of millions are heading to the county over the Christmas season, and many are hopeful that they will have the same luck as the winners.