A FAMILY SYNDICATE in Co Cavan who scooped the EuroMillions jackpot last week has collected their €17 million prize.

The Anglo-Celt reported that the winners are a father, son and daughter from Cavan town, who bought the winning ticket at a Lidl shop on the Athlone Road on the day of the draw, Friday 12 December.

The National Lottery said the syndicate plan to use their winnings to buy homes for their family.

One member of the family said: “We have a few things in mind! We’re hoping to buy homes for our close family members, and we’re looking forward to house hunting for a holiday home in France so we can enjoy holidays together!”

The winners said there were a lot of missed calls and chaos after the draw.

“I was trying to call each of the syndicate members over and over. I’d say everyone had at least four missed calls from me, and it was probably a few hours before anyone returned my call.

“Imagine sitting with a ticket worth €17 million and I can’t get anyone on the phone. When I finally got a call back to deliver the news, they just kept asking was I sure!”

They said the local bank put the ticket in their safe as the thought of keeping it at home was “too much”.

“This all still feels very surreal so I think it will take a while to fully believe what’s just happened.”

Also celebrating before Christmas was a Louth man who scooped over €25,ooo in the 20th December Lotto draw. His winning ticket was purchased at Londis Top Shop in Ravensdale, Dundalk.

“I usually watch the draw live, and this was the one week I didn’t! When I checked my ticket, I tried calling the entire family and no one answered. So, I posted a message in our family WhatsApp group asking if anyone saw the Lotto and included a photo of my ticket with the results. The replies came flooding in once they saw that!” he said.