A winner has stepped forward to collect the biggest ever EuroMillions prize of €250million (£208million) after three days of speculation.
The life-changing ticket was bought at a shop in County Cork, Ireland, the Irish National Lottery has now confirmed, after revealing on Wednesday it had been bought in the country's Munster province.
The winner matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history.
The extraordinary windfall is the 18th time an Irish ticket-holder has claimed the EuroMillions top prize.
A winner has stepped forward to collect Ireland's biggest ever EuroMillions prize
PAIt also marks the first major Irish victory since February 2022, ending a lengthy wait for lottery enthusiasts across the country.
The record-breaking sum equals the maximum possible EuroMillions jackpot, which cannot exceed €250million under current "cap" rules.
The winning combination that secured the fortune was 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, alongside lucky stars three and five.
The jackpot had been accumulating since early June, reaching its ceiling on June 6 following multiple rollovers.
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The winning combination that secured this fortune was 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, alongside lucky stars three and five
GETTYTuesday's draw proved particularly rewarding for Irish participants, with over 92,000 players across the country securing prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games.
The County Cork winner's success continues Ireland's remarkable track record in the pan-European lottery.
The previous Irish EuroMillions jackpot winner struck gold in February 2022, claiming €30.9million through a "quick pick" ticket from a service station in Ballina, County Tipperary.
Earlier this week before the winner came forward, Cian Murphy, chief executive of the Irish National Lottery, advised the then-unknown ticket holder to "stay calm" when discovering their win.
Irish National Lottery chief executive Cian Murphy told the then-unknown ticket holder to "stay calm" when discovering their win
GETTY
He added that the "massive" prize could prove overwhelming for the recipient.
Meanwhile, National Lottery spokeswoman Emma Monaghan told RTE Radio: "Someone in Ireland is a quarter of a billion euros richer this morning."
"If at all possible, stay calm. I know that might be easier said than done.
"Have a cup of tea and let it sink in," Monaghan told the winner.
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