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The Clare man said he's in no rush to spend his winnings PA Archive/PA Images

'I was in no hurry': Farmer waited until days before deadline to collect lottery cash

The winner said he has no major plans for the €500,000, bar some upgrades to farm machinery.

A FARMER FROM Co Clare waited 83 days to collect his €500,000 lottery winnings, saying: “I knew straight away that I had won but I wanted to keep my head down and let the excitement die down before collecting it.”

The man claimed his prize today, just seven days before the end of the 90-day deadline that, if passed, would have left him unable to collect the money.

An appeal was even issued on Clare FM for the winner to come forward and claim their prize.

The ticket’s been in my jacket pocket for the past three months, I haven’t let it out of my sight since the draw. I was in no hurry to collect my cheque and I considered leaving it until the last day until I heard the local radio station urging people to check their tickets.

The winning ticket, part of the EuroMillions Plus lottery, was sold on 13 June at Paul Hogan’s Service Station on the Gort Road in Ennis.

As for what he’ll do with the money, he’s in no rush to spend it all: “We’ll enjoy the week with a few celebratory drinks.”

It’s a huge amount of money to win and I have no real plan for it. I might look at upgrading some of the farm machinery in the next few weeks but that’ll be it for the time being.

Read: ‘I called and told them I will not be coming back’: US winner of €642 million jackpot claims prize >

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    Mute Emmet Dillane
    Favourite Emmet Dillane
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    Sep 4th 2017, 4:32 PM

    Like getting all your subsidies at once.
    Anyway, best of luck to him in his new tractor.

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    Mute neuromancer
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    Sep 4th 2017, 4:49 PM

    He obviously wasnt short a few quid, and didn’t seem half arsed in collecting it until last minute. Would have liked to see a family on the breadline getting it.

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    Mute Ariana
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    Sep 4th 2017, 4:58 PM

    Could The Journal not find a stock photo of an Irish ticket?

    109
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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:02 PM

    @Ariana: or even go out & buy one, stick it on expenses

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    Mute Missyb211
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:20 PM

    Good man yourself. cool calm and collected. I like it!

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Sep 4th 2017, 4:39 PM

    Well that story has certainly lifted my spirits on this gloomy Monday.

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    Mute George Oscar Bluth
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    Sep 4th 2017, 4:51 PM

    @Beachmaster: Waterford fan?

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:01 PM

    He was off buying a few mattresses to hide it under

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    Mute Frankly Mydear
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:16 PM

    According to the ticket he’s six years too late to collect

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:30 PM

    @Frankly Mydear: hahaha

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    Mute Wes O'Toole
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    Sep 4th 2017, 9:51 PM

    @Frankly Mydear: LOL..!

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:16 PM

    Didn’t want de revenue or de depaaaartment sniffing around!

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:43 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: lottery winnings are tax free

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    Mute Pat Troy
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:01 PM

    Poor farmer.

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Sep 4th 2017, 6:12 PM

    Guess he can throw that on the pile of money he’s already sitting on.

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    Mute Barry O Rourke
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    Sep 4th 2017, 7:07 PM

    Wonder will he buy a new mattress to stuff it in

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    Mute Gordon Jono Power
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    Sep 4th 2017, 5:51 PM

    It took that amount of time to dig the hole with his spade to hide it in.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Sep 4th 2017, 6:05 PM

    @Gordon Jono Power:
    Why would he need to hide it?

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    Mute Wes O'Toole
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    Sep 4th 2017, 9:49 PM

    Was not in a rush to collect it.? Its always the people that don’t need it win it..! As the saying goes.! No such thing as a poor farmer..!

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    Mute pat seery
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    Sep 4th 2017, 6:21 PM

    The Poor Poor Farmer

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Sep 4th 2017, 7:01 PM

    @pat seery: struggling on pat….

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