“It’s not a normal Friday in Newbridge,” said Alan Jordan, owner of Jordan’s Centra in Curragh Grange.
The shop sold the winning ticket for Thursday’s €10 million lotto jackpot and was abuzz with customers speculating about who the new millionaire might be.
“I’ve no idea,” said Jordan.
Nobody did, apparently.
“It’s definitely someone local,” said one woman, with a touch of bitterness, adding: “Feck – and we always do it.”
The draw, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday, received close attention after technical issues forced its postponement for a night.
“We’d a very busy day with the lotto yesterday,” said Jordan. “I think with all the hype around the fact that it wasn’t working on Wednesday and the fact that it was €10 million, it brought more people out on Thursday.”
The winning ticket had actually been sold the previous Thursday, January 29th: an €8 quick pick, multi-draw ticket, suggesting a single player rather than a syndicate – which tend to purchase tickets of a higher face value.
“I got a phone call last night from Jim O’Connor, the sales manager in the National Lottery,” said Jordan. “I missed it and he texted me saying to ring him urgently, so it gave me an inkling that we might have sold a winning ticket.”
It’s the first time the shop has handled a winner and Jordan said it “felt great” to get the news. “I was very excited because I knew that there’d be a buzz around the place today.”
The customers and staff were in “great form”, he said. Free tea and coffee was promised to visitors as a celebration. By midday the coffee machine had broken down.
Faulty technology was also to blame for the postponement of the jackpot draw – the first time the lotto has had to be delayed. There’s a bit of a blame game being played out in that regard. Premier Lotteries Ireland, the new operator, say it’s telecoms provider Telefonica’s fault. But PLI have been criticised for failing to have a backup plan in place.
Such trifles will no doubt be of little concern to the winner. It’s now up to them to make themselves know to the National Lottery (if no one else) after which they’ll be free to pick up the big cheque for €10 million.
And the shop? Well there’s a taxable €15,000 “agents’s bonus” to enjoy. “It’s nice enough,” said Jordan. “There’ll be a few pints had tonight”.
