Joy in Finglas as Lotto winner nets €2.6m

But the identity of the lucky punter has eluded locals so far with shopkeepers saying it could be "anyone".

Staff at Dunnes Stores in Charlestown Centre, in Finglas discovered this weekend that they had sold the winning combination as part of an €8 Quick Pick ticket.

"There's a great buzz and excitement down here; everyone wants to know if they're the person who won the jackpot," assistant Manager at the north Dublin Dunnes store Cathrina Kelly said.

"We're only open four years and we've never sold a winning Lotto ticket before."

Management at the store said that there was a very good chance that the winner was local because 95pc of their clients came from the Finglas, Ballymun and Cabra areas. Dunnes Stores staff members were frantically checking their own tickets on Saturday but it is understood that none of them landed the life-changing loot.

The anonymous punter purchased the winning ticket on Saturday afternoon, hours before the draw.

Dublin has been particularly good for Lotto players this year.

Earlier this year, a native of the capital who wished to remain anonymous picked up his second prize. The fortunate Dubliner had won a Lotto jackpot prize of €2,825,374 in January 2008, but scooped a further €500,000 in the Monday Million Plus draw in January of this year.

Meanwhile, Pat Broderick who scooped €7m earlier this year, has already spent most of winnings -- on homes for his children. Since winning the Lotto, Pat has quit his job as a postman in Kinsale.

hnews@herald.ie