Latest News

LOTTO bosses have revealed the lucky store that sold a life-changing €4,642,646 ticket.

Centra on Platin Road, Drogheda in Co. Louth sold the winning ticket in Wednesday’s Lotto draw.

The town of Drogheda is no stranger to National Lottery winning ways after celebrating several high-tier wins over the years, including the Lotto jackpot win of €3,523,021 on February 14, 2024.

Shop owner William Daly said: “My wife, Bernie and I are thrilled with today’s announcement as the latest store to sell a winning Lotto Jackpot ticket and to have sold the first Lotto jackpot win of 2025.

“This is our first time ever selling a winning ticket, we are over the moon to have done so.

“I’d like to thank the amazing team in our store for their dedication and hard work, serving our loyal customers in our community here in Drogheda.

“We have a lot of regular customers, so it’s great to think that one of them may have won a life-changing prize.

“We wish the very best for the winner and may it bring them every happiness and success in the future.

“It’s a well-deserved lift for the community here in Drogheda!”

The Louth player becomes the first Lotto Jackpot winner of 2025, after purchasing their winning ticket on Saturday, January 25 from Centra, Platin Road.

The winning numbers from Wednesday night’s Lotto draw were: 5, 12, 14, 27, 34, 42 and the Bonus was 25.

National Lottery spokesperson Darragh O’Dwyer said: “It might be known as the Wee County, but celebrations are certain to be high this week in Louth with a Lotto player bagging themselves €4,642,646 in Wednesday night’s draw.

“The midweek multi-millionaire has officially taken the title of Ireland’s first Lotto Jackpot Winner of 2025.

“The National Lottery can confirm that the winner has made contact with our claims team and arrangements are being made for Ireland’s newest millionaire to collect their prize.”

Last week, another punter bagged a €500k top prize in the EuroMillions Plus draw.

A player in Louth scooped the prize in the Plus draw.

There were no winners of the EuroMillions jackpot in this evening’s December 6 draw, which could have made someone €17,000,000 richer.

The EuroMillions numbers in the main draw were 9, 37, 41, 42, 49 and 1 and 9 as lucky stars.

One Irish player matched five numbers and one Lucky Star, winning a whopping €474,164, while another bagged €110,820 after matching five numbers.

Over 29,000 players bagged prizes in Ireland in the EuroMillions and Plus games.

MONDAY last saw a unique event in Dublin, a wine tasting co-promoted by Australia, and New Zealand.

It proved to be an extraordinarily successful day, for winemakers, importers, and wine lovers who attended the consumer tasting that evening.

Getty Images - Getty

It’s a while since we have had the chance to welcome the Australians back, while New Zealand have been an annual fixture on the tasting calendar for many years.

The wines from some 86 wineries were on show, 44 from Australia and 42 came from New Zealand. Nine of them arrived seeking an Irish importer.

This week I am concentrating on the return of the Aussies and will happily report on our New Zealand friends in the coming weeks.

Shortly after I began writing about wine the national sales figures for the year 2000 were published and showed Australia topping the table with 750,000 cases. Chile was second, with 669,000 sales.

Fast forward to 2023 and fortunes have decidedly changed – with Australia on 1.22million cases and Chile shifting 2.3million. Indeed, Spain had moved into second spot with 1.26million.

But there is some good news for the Aussies in that there has been a slight upturn in sales in recent years – and now, it seems, that they will make a concerted effort to win back lost sales on these shores.

Back home they have had to destroy millions of vines in recent years because of a wine glut, while excess stock was sold off at big discounts – although we didn’t see much of it this side if the world!

The well publicised diplomatic spat between Australia and China killed that highly lucrative wine market, with the Chinese imposing prohibitive tariffs on wine imports in 2020.

And while relationships have recently warmed and the Chinese market is slowly opening up again, Australians have moved some of their focus to Europe and the US, but have found that wine consumption across the globe is declining annually.

Back around the turn of the millennium wines from the likes of Lindemans, Hardys and Jacob’s Creek was on every shop shelf. All had a strong following in Ireland, all very approachable – and very affordable.

Since then, many Australian winemakers have consolidated their businesses and began to specialise in high-end (expensive) wines.

These, for the most part, are exceptional wines but have price tags that make them prohibitive for many wine lovers.

Yet while last Monday’s tasting had many of these premium wines on show, there was a good smattering of well made and drinkable bottles in the €15 to €25 price range.

Indeed, Calabria, Qualia, Ant Moore, Elderton, Barossa Valley Estate, Wakefield and Silex all had wines in this price bracket.

The Aussies will have been delighted by Monday’s turnout and renewed enthusiasm for their wines. Maybe they are about to re-kindle their love affair with Irish consumers!

WONDERFUL WINES

I enjoyed quite a few of the wines tasted on Monday and I have chosen two in the €25 category to review today, a price point that can deliver excellent wines from Down Under.

My third choice is an Aussie Riesling, a super introduction to this noble grape.

Corryton Burge Eden Valley Riesling 2022 (ABV 12.5%)

€17.99 RRP @ good independents

Grape: Riesling

A CLASSIC, and very approachable Eden Valley Riesling, with a seriously friendly price tag.

A translucent green colour, with hints of straw, in the glass. The nose gives off distinctive hints of green apple, citrus, and mixed spice.

The bone-dry palate is quite generous and driven by flavours of lemon, lime, green apple and excellent acidity.

Enjoy with: Oysters, or ceviche.

Star rating: ****

Yalumba Samuels Collection Bush Vine Grenache 2022 (ABV 14.5%)

€25 approx @ good independents

Grape: Grenache

OUTSIDE its home of Spain, Grenache has established a strong foothold in Languedoc, France and Chile – but the most exciting varietal wines currently come from Australia.

This juicy, old vine (70 years plus) Barossa example is ruby coloured, with aromas of raspberry, strawberry, cherry and a floral note.

The palate is medium-bodied and rounded with cherry and raspberry the dominant flavours, but with an earthy and herbal dusting. Silky tannins and a light coating of oak add to the taste.

Enjoy with: Szechuan Chicken

Star rating: *****

Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Shiraz 2021 (ABV 13.5%)

€25.99 RRP @ good independents

Grape: Shiraz

FOR almost 170 years the Tyrrells have tended vineyards in the Hunter Valley, producing, in particular, iconic Semillon and Shiraz wines.

This Shiraz, tasted on Monday, proved to be the most impressive at this price point – one you have to hit to get super quality Oz reds.

A vibrant red/purple colour, with lifted aromas of plums, cherries and white pepper, the palate has depth of flavour, featuring soft black and red fruit, spice, nice acidity, lovely minerality and savoury tannins.

Enjoy with: Your favourite steak.

Star rating: *****

THIS WEEK’S IRISH SUN BARGAIN BOTTLE

WE promise to bring Irish Sun wine lovers a taste-tested vino each weekend that won’t hurt your pocket – and is under a tenner.

The cost of glass, packaging, labelling and transport have sky-rocketed in recent years.

Finding excellent value wines is getting harder, but we have managed to find some great bottles that would grace any dinner table or be a super mid-week couch sipper.

Protocolo Tinto 2021 (ABV 14%)

Currently €9.45 @ O’Briens Wine

Grape: Tempranillo

WINE lovers’ favourite for many years, and yet still available with change from a tenner.

With fruit from vineyards in central Spain’s Castile-La Mancha region, this ruby red, full-bodied wine has notes of ripe red fruit and spice on the nose.

The palate offers a flavour profile with hints of strawberry and cherry fruit, a little twist of spice and balanced tannins.

Enjoy with: Braised oxtail.

Star rating: ****

Президент США Дональд Трамп заявив, що внаслідок зіткнення пасажирського авіалайнера з військовим гелікоптером біля аеропорту у Вашингтоні ніхто не вижив, звинувативши у трагедії політику адміністрацій Барака Обами і Джо Байдена. Про це він сказав під час спеціальної пресконференції в четвер, передає власний кореспондент Укрінформу. «На жаль, ніхто не вижив», — заявив Трамп у промові щодо […]

Високий кров’яний тиск-поширене захворювання, що підвищує ризик серцевого нападу або інсульту. Зниження артеріального тиску можна домогтися за рахунок різноманітних змін способу життя. Поряд з регулярними вправами, обмеженням вживання алкоголю і відмовою від куріння, дієта є важливим засобом контролю рівня цукру в крові. Деякі продукти були досліджені на предмет їх здатності знижувати кров’яний тиск. Амарант – […]

1 Артистка залишила своїм нащадкам 1,7 мільйона фунтів стерлінгів. Через півтора року після смерті Шинейд О’Коннор стало відомо, що її троє дітей успадкували 1,4 мільйона фунтів стерлінгів і права на її музичну спадщину. Через півтора року після смерті легендарної ірландської виконавиці Шинейд О’Коннор, яка пішла з життя в липні 2023 року, стало відомо, як було […]

  Люди з низькою самооцінкою завжди отримують порцію агресії в суспільстві. Вважається, що ними можна керувати, вони не впевнені у своїх силах, постійно допускають помилки і бояться багато. Але, як зрозуміти, коли йдеться про низьку самооцінку? Як показує практика, багато хто плутають низьку самооцінку з адекватною і навіть не звертають на це свою увагу. Тому […]

За скоєне йому загрожує до п’яти років ув’язнення. Молодий чоловік через запізнення на поїзд вирішив добиратися додому на чужому автомобілі. Про це повідомили в поліції Миколаївської області. До відділення поліції №2 Миколаївського райуправління звернувся місцевий житель із заявою про викрадення авто марки ВАЗ 21011, яке він залишив біля залізничного вокзалу в Миколаєві. Того ж дня до Баштанського райвідділу […]

Officers found the body of a woman “in Rijeka” after two sisters disappeared three weeks ago. Eliza and Henrietta Huszti ...

Read more

Rupesh Soni is a Indian dancer and choreographer. He and Piyush Gurbhele are famous for the TV dance reality show ...

Read more

WHO needs horses when Willie Mullins provides incredible drama with his jockey bookings?

The Closutton boss decided on a jaw-dropping last-minute rider switch that saw his son Patrick kicked off a huge ride.

PA

Patrick Mullins thought he had the plum ride on Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle – until his dad Willie kicked him off for another horse[/caption]

Trainers had to confirm their jockeys for Sunday’s Dublin Racing Festival action by the noon deadline.

Minutes before that, Mullins had put son Patrick on Rich Ricci’s awesome grey mare Lossiemouth for the Irish Champion Hurdle, for which she is odds-on fav.

This came after it was confirmed Paul Townend would ride State Man.

That meant Willie’s nephew Danny was given the ride on Daddy Long Legs – until Danny was then mysteriously booked for both Daddy Long Legs and Lossiemouth.

With just seconds to go until the deadline, though, Willie performed a dramatic U-turn.

Amateur rider Patrick’s name now appeared next to Winter Fog, who Rachael Blackmore’s boyfriend Brian Hayes had originally been booked to ride.

While Sean O’Keeffe was the jockey tasked with riding outsider Daddy Long Legs.

The astonishing late switch-up means Danny will have a huge shot at Grade 1 glory on Ricci’s 8-13 fav.

Townend will hope the defending Champion Hurdle king can defy 13-8 odds after flopping completely at Christmas.

While Patrick goes from the ride on the odds-on jolly to steering unfancied 16-1 chance Winter Fog.

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.