'IS THIS A WIND-UP?' ASKED LOTTO JACKPOT STORE OWNER

€250m at our cheque-out

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THE owner of the store that sold the winning €250million EuroMillions ticket joked that he thought it was a wind-up when the phone call came through from the National Lottery this week.

Having drip-fed information about the momentous win since Tuesday night's draw - first that it was won in Munster, then that it was sold in Cork - yesterday morning the National Lottery revealed that the ticket was sold at Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street in Cork city centre in the days before the draw.

The shop which sold the ticket can also bag up to €25,000 for being the lucky seller.

The National Lottery released a brief snippet of the phone call with owner Ted Clifford confirming the news on social media yesterday.

Having been told the news, Tim replied: "Ah this is a wind-up, is it? You're joking me."

Asked how it felt to be the store that sold the ticket for the biggest jackpot win in EuroMillions history, he said: "Ah, that's great news. I'm just gutted it wasn't me that bought it!"

The historic win marks a first for the Rebel County and is the largest prize ever claimed in Ireland since EuroMillions launched here in 2004. It is also the 18th time an Irish player has landed the jackpot.

After days of speculation and excitement, the National Lottery confirmed that the lucky winner has made contact with their Prize Claims team, officially ending the guessing game.