One lucky punter is this morning clutching a golden ticket worth almost seven million euros after single-handedly scooping the State's biggest lotto in two years.
The winner, who bought the ticket in Dublin, took the jackpot of €6,974,040 euros after the numbers 17, 21, 27, 38, 40, 42 and the bonus number 11 were fell from the drum in last night's draw.
The amount is the fifth biggest ever Irish jackpot. The biggest was a €9.4 million-euro pot scooped by two separate groups.
Lotto spokeswoman Ms Paula McEvoy advised the winner to put the ticket away safely. She said the winner should then come in and claim his or her prize early next week.