A family from Birr, Offaly who have been playing Lotto together for seven years decided to do something different this month - they bought their first EuroMillions ticket - and won half a million euro.

The syndicate of five were accompanied by extended family as they collected their €500,000 cheque at National Lottery offices today.

“We won a Scratch Card on Lotto two weeks ago. And on that we won €6. It was too little to divide up between the five of us, so I said, ‘let’s get a ticket for the EuroMillions’,” said one Birr man, who won the prize with his aunt, uncle and two cousins. 

Today’s lucky winners will split their prize equally, each taking home a nice even €100,000 each.