Not since the Sallins mail train robbery in March 1976 has the Co Kildare town been so much in the news.
And just as the wrong men were got for the robbery, so the winner of half this week’s EuroMillions lottery jackpot of €188 million turns out not to be from the town after all.
'Dublin region'
The ticket was bought "in the Dublin region", which could, technically perhaps include Kildare, the National Lottery said yesterday evening, adding that the winner, or winners, (they did not specify) wished to remain private for the present.
“This is the second largest jackpot win in National Lottery history and the lucky winner will jump in at number 96 on Ireland’s rich list,” said the lottery – a spot on the rich list two places higher than the €94 million he or she or they will pocket.
Or lurry into a skip. . .
EuroMillions is played in nine countries – Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK – and Ireland, or rather some Irish residents, has done rather well out of it.
There have been four jackpot wins since the EuroMillions game launched in Ireland in 2004. Dolores McNamara holds the record for the largest win which came in at over €115 million in 2005. In July 2008, a €15 million winning ticket was sold in Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary, while a €29.4 million jackpot winning ticket was sold in Dublin in June 2009.
In Belgium (population 11.2 million), where there have been a commendable 24 EuroMillions lotto winners, there was little sign yesterday of the other lucky €94 million winner.
"Le gagnant belge partage la cagnotte du rang 1 avec un autre vainqueur établi en Irlande. Avec un gain de 93.968.807 euros, il devient le deuxième plus gros vainqueur belge de l'histoire de la loterie," reported Le Soir.
Plus gros indeed!
Chocs galore
The lucky winner will be able to purchase an entire Belgian chocolate factory with that lot. Two even. . .
And spare a tear for all lottery outlets in Sallins: none will receive the €25,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. But some other lucky retailer will.
