Second largest lotto prize of the year collected by syndicate

The biggest national lottery prize ever won in Co Leitrim was collected on Thursday in Dublin by a syndicate from the north-west.

They collected a cheque for € 11,179,621 at National Lottery headquarters which was won in the draw on Saturday, August 20th.

The winning ticket was bought in the Spar on Main Street in Kinlough, Co Leitrim. A spokesperson for the syndicate said today "we're absolutely delighted. We look forward to good health and happiness."

To date 20 jackpots worth over € 10 million have been won by players in Ireland. The largest Lotto win €18,963,44 was by the Dan Morrissey syndicate in Carlow on June 26th, 2008.

The Leitim won is the second largest Lotto prize won this year. Last January a Mayo family won € 13,793,435 after a buying a quick pick ticket in Careys, Belmullet.

Players in Ireland have won over € 3.4 billion in prizes since the Lotto game began in 1988.

There was no winner of last night's Lotto jackpot, although a lucky ticketholder matched five numbers and the bonus to win €229,606. That ticket was bought in the Applegreen, Paulstown, on the M9 in Kilkenny. This Saturday the Lotto jackpot is an estimated € 3.5 million.

Since 1988 the National Lottery has raised over € 4.7 billion for community projects and individuals in areas such as youth, sports, recreation, amenities, health, welfare, arts, culture, national heritage and the Irish language.