- Lifestyle & Sports
- 03 Jan 18
Irish Football Star Scoops Lotto Prize
Preston North End star Kevin O’Connor, who has been capped at under-21 level for Ireland, has scored the main prize of €1million in the Lotto’s Christmas Millionaire Raffle.
The winning ticket was given to the former Cork City left back as a Christmas gift by his godfather.
The 22-year-old footballer said: “It’s been an incredible two days and I don’t think the win has sunk in yet. I have no immediate plans but will take a few days before we make any decisions.
“The important part of today was having my family with me so they will be at the forefront of any plans.
“My main focus at the moment is to help Preston climb the Championship and hopefully challenge for a Premier League spot over the next couple of months.”
The ticket was purchased in the village of Castlebridge. The owner of the shop, Louis Flanagan told The Sun newspaper: “Once the ticket was validated I asked Kevin for a hold of it so I could become a millionaire for a few short seconds.
“I was delighted for Kevin and his parents, Brian and Breda. One could not meet a nicer person or family. When he came into the supermarket along with his girlfriend, it was the very same Kevin of old.
“He has not changed one bit. He is as nice a person as one could meet. Kevin got to where he is today the hard way. He played with Waterford before joining Cork City.
"He worked so hard to get that opportunity with Preston North End having also played with Ireland at under-age level.
“If I was to pick a person to win I could not have done any better. It’s wonderful and with such a nice family I have still hope in this world."
RELATED
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 18 Jul 25
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner of Swansea City
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 18 Jul 25
Extreme skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 15 Jul 25
Irish cyclist takes Tour de France yellow jersey for the first time in 38 years
RELATED
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 15 Jul 25
Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 racks up 6 million Netflix viewers worldwide
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 14 Jul 25
Cork's Claudia Maguire performs Diogo Jota tribute at first Liverpool match since his death
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 10 Jul 25
GAA Palestine to appeal Irish visa denial ahead of summer tour
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 10 Jul 25
Irish sport figures call for Central Band of Ireland "to stop facilitating Israel’s genocide bonds"
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 03 Jul 25
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash aged 28
- Lifestyle & Sports
- 01 Jul 25