A PRIEST who hails from Co. Mayo has scooped a €500,000 win in the EuroMillions draw while visiting his homeland for the Christmas holidays.
The Irishman, a retired priest who is now living in Florida, claimed his winnings today, RTE reports, having bought the quick pick ticket in Donnybrook Fair in Malahide in Dublin on December 22.
He joked that God must be listening to his prayers, as he revealed that this is not his first lottery win, although he promised to share his winnings with people in need.
Previously the lucky priest has won £15,000 Irish pounds on the old Irish Sweepstakes, and $3,000 and $5,000 over the years in lotteries in the US.
"I suppose you can say I am lucky. But I have always had a policy of sharing my luck around," he explained.
"This is a huge amount of money and I look forward to giving some back."
The priest recalled hearing last week that one of the two winning EuroMillions Plus tickets had been purchased in Donnybrook Fair, claiming: "I didn't get too excited when I heard this first.
"I went back to the shop and gave the ticket to the same girl I had purchased it from to be checked.
"Lo and behold there was a message on the system to contact the National Lottery! So I knew at that stage I had won."
