'It is hard to believe it': Cork store celebrates selling €250 million EuroMillions ticket

Balloons were flying and Champagne was flowing at Clifford’s Centra in Cork City this Friday after it was revealed as the store which sold Tuesday's winning EuroMillions ticket.

There were celebrations at the family-owned store on Shandon Street on the northside of city after it was confirmed as the lucky store where the €250 million ticket was bought.

In a post on social media Lottery, the National Lottery revealed how the owner of the store believed it was a wind-up when he received the phone call the he store has sold the winning ticket.

However, once the dust had settled, Ted Clifford said it's fantastic news. "It is hard to believe it. We are delighted to have sold this golden ticket to one of our customers. We already sold a winning Millionaire Raffle ticket on New Year's Eve just gone, worth €100,000, so that must have been the start of our winning streak," he said.

"It's an honour to be part of this historic moment. We are here on Shandon Street for 95 years and am so proud to be the 3rd generation owner of Clifford’s. We send our warmest congratulations to the winner and their family,” he added. 

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Speaking at the store in Cork City Centre, Cian Murphy, CEO of the National Lottery, said: "This is a truly historic moment for the National Lottery and for the country. Not only does it mark the 18th EuroMillions jackpot win in Ireland, but also Ireland’s biggest ever Jackpot win. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winner and our sincere thanks to Ted, Simon and all at Clifford’s Centra for being part of this unforgettable milestone.” 

Simon Champ, manage of Clifford's Centra with Cian Murphy, CEO of National Lottery at Shandon Street in Cork City

Speculation around Shandon Street and the wider Cork City area is now rife as to who the winner or winners of the €250 million may be.

The holder of the winning ticket has made contact with the National Lottery Claims Team and arrangements are now being made for the lucky player - the 18th winner of the EuroMillions jackpot in Ireland - to collect their prize in the coming days.  

"We are absolutely thrilled to have heard from our EuroMillions winner," said Emma Monaghan, spokesperson for the National Lottery. 

"At this point, our priority is to give them the necessary time and space to make arrangements and let this life-changing news sink in," she added.

Irish EuroMillions jackpot winners to date:     

1. July 2005: Dolores McNamara from Limerick, was Ireland’s first and biggest EuroMillions winner scooping over €115 million.   

2. July 2008: A lucky player from Co. Tipperary won a €15 million jackpot with a ticket bought in Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary.   

3. June 2009: A family syndicate shared the jackpot with a British winner, taking homeover €29.4 million with a ticket they purchased in Dublin.   

4. June 2013: A winning ticket sold in Beaumount, Dublin, shared a EuroMillions jackpot worth over €187 million. A Dublin player earned half of the jackpot and picked up over €93 million.   

5. September 2013: A young man from the South East shared a jackpot of over €25 million with a player in Spain, taking home over €12.8 million.   

6. April 2014: A jackpot prize worth €15 million was claimed on a ticket sold in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.   

7. September 2014: An €86.7 million jackpot was won by a syndicate from Dublin. The ticket was sold in Centra, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin.   

8. January 2016: A syndicate of friends won over €66 million, splitting the jackpot of €132,376,632. The ticket was sold in Eason’s store, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow.   

9. July 2016: 22 colleagues from Dublin Bus won the €23.8 million. The ticket was sold in O’Hanlon’s Portarlington.   

10. January 2017: A Dublin work syndicate claimed the €88.5 million EuroMillions jackpot. The winning ticket was sold at the Applegreen Service Station on the M1 Northbound in Lusk, Co. Dublin.   

11. July 2017: A syndicate from the West of Ireland won a €29 million EuroMillions jackpot. The ticket was sold in Garryduff XL Store on Pound Road, Castlebar in Co. Mayo.   

12. December 2017: A small family syndicate from Dublin won €38.9 million on a ticket purchased in The Village Shop in Malahide Shopping Centre   

13. June 2018: 32 colleagues from Stakelums Hardware store in Thurles Co. Tipperary share a €17 million EuroMillions jackpot with a ticket they purchased at Eason’s Store in Thurles Shopping Centre in Co. Tipperary.   

14. February 2019: The Naul Family Syndicate won €175.4 million on a ticket sold in Reilly’s Daybreak in Naul, Co. Dublin.   

15. February 2020: A Co. Mayo family shared the €17 million jackpot with a ticket they purchased at Mulroy’s Londis Store in Castlebar.   

16. July 2020: An online player in Dublin won a €49.5 million jackpot which they won with a €2.50 normal play ticket.   

17. February 2022: Mid-West ticket holder scoops €30.9 million jackpot with Quick Pick ticket they purchased at Larkin’s Gala Service Station in Ballina, Co. Tipperary.  

18. June 2025: Cork player wins a record €250 million jackpot having bought their ticket at Clifford's Centra, Shandon Street, Cork City.