‘We have to stay quiet’: Bere Island Euromillions winner wishes to remain anonymous

Local postmistress says news of the €500,000 win has ‘gone all over the world’

Bere Island’s population is just 180, so the win is a significant event in the community. Photograph: Getty Images

The winner of the €500,000 Euromillions prize on Bere Island in west Cork has come forward to claim their prize but wishes to remain anonymous.

The winning ticket - a quickpick - was sold at Mary Murphy’s post office on Monday, September 18th and with a population of just 180, the win was a significant event on the island.

Ms Murphy, who has has run the post office since the late 1970s said that there has been huge excitement on Bere Island for the past week.

"It's been an amazing week. I've been on radio in Canada, Scotland, and we've had Sky News here. It's gone all over the world."

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Ms Murphy said she could not comment on the identity of the winner who had come forward. “I can’t comment, it’s private, they want to remain anonymous and we have to respect that.

"It is a small place, it is very hard, people are speculating, but we have to respect that. That's the way it is. We have to stay quiet," she told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

She added that Lawrencecove post office is the first post office on an island to sell a winning Euromillions ticket.

“It’s been unbelievable, I can’t describe it. Never had anything like it in my life.

I only started last October, selling here.”

Ms Murphy asked people to support their local post office, adding, “ If you’re not in, you can’t win.”

Many people will be hoping to be in for a win tonight as the Euromillions jackpot reaches €165 million. Sales close at 7.30pm.