Another Cavan lotto millionaire

It really was a happy new year for one lucky lotto player who is a million euro richer starting 2026.

It was a great start to the year too for the team at Maxol Cullies Cavan, which sold the winning Millionaire Raffle ticket for the New Year’s Eve draw.

The National Lottery press office confirmed to the Celt today (Tuesday): “The Millionaire Raffle winner of €1 million has made contact with our Prize Claims team. Arrangements are underway for them to claim their prize.”

Celebrations, meanwhile, were already underway at the Cavan Town service station when the Celt dropped by on Friday morning, January 2.

As champagne popped and fists pumped the air in celebration, another lotto player won €500 in store.

It seems the Breffni county is on a winning streak! The latest win follows a €17 million EuroMillions jackpot win. That ticket was sold in Lidl on December 12, while a couple of weeks prior to that, another play scooped the DailyMillion top prize of €1 million having purchased their ticket at Rudden’s Service Station on the Dublin Road.

Cavan’s latest winning ticket retailer, Maxol Cullies Proprietor Jim Burke told the Celt it was “unusual” to get a call on New Year’s Day at 9am from the National Lottery.

“I knew when I saw the call that it was good news,” Jim revealed.

“I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled for the customers. It was a brilliant feeling.”

The Millionaire Raffle ticket, sold at a cost of €25, is an “exceptionally popular” Christmas present and “sells very well”.

“There’s a limited amount of them and it’s a guaranteed €1 million prize.

“They fly out the door in the weeks leading up to Christmas,” he said, particularly as “last minute” gifts.

“It’s great for us as a local shop involved in local communities to sell something to someone locally. It’s fantastic news.”

His words of advice for the lucky winner are: “Congratulations and the very best of luck with it. It’s a million euros and it’s a lot of money. I hope it works out for you.”

The National Lottery is continuing to urge Millionaire Raffle ticket holders to check their tickets very carefully from the New Year’s Eve draw. The winning ticket number which earned the top prize for the Cavan player was 322259.

Meanwhile National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan said the news was “fantastic” for Cavan.

“We’re here again to celebrate the millionaire raffle win,” she beamed.

Commenting on the why Cavan has been so successful recently, Ms Monaghan said: “Who knows? I mean it’s the nature of the game. We could be anywhere in the country for any prize but to have a series of wins like this, it’s fantastic for the county.”

While the winners are the main beneficiary’s, the shops who sell the tickets also receive some reward for the winning ticket sale.

“All retailers who sell a winning jackpot prize whatever it may be, they get a set fee for selling that winning ticket, which is great. To have a win associated with your shop it’s great for the community and great for the customers.”

“If it’s a jackpot prize it’s usually a set fee and then depending on whatever prize it may be, it’s a percentage of that that the retailer will get.”

“It’s always good to have some good news, especially in the early days of the new year,” Ms Monaghan continued.

Indeed as she spoke, customers both on the forecourt and in the busy dining area were looking out the windows, smiling and waving in delight. The banter and celebrations continued in store as several customers proclaimed themselves as the prize winner.

Another player in Monaghan claimed €100,000 in the same New Year’s Eve draw, having purchased their ticket at the Londis on New Terrace in Monaghan Town.

Proprietor of McCleary’s Londis in Monaghan town Brendan McCleary said management staff were both “delighted and excited” when they heard the news that they had sold the winning ticket worth €100k.

While he said “speculation is rife” as to who the winner is, “hopefully” the sum is in a local’s pocket.

“It’s a happy start to the New Year,” Mr McCleary commented, adding that there was a “great buzz” in store, and that there “still is.”