Did Golfgate attendee hit the €7.3m Lotto jackpot?

That’s because there is strong speculation across County Galway that an attendee of the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden is now a multi-millionaire, after purchasing a Lotto ticket in a shop in the town.

If true, the contrast in fortunes from fellow guests at the banquet couldn’t be starker – as the controversy dubbed ‘Golfgate’ has claimed a number of high-profile scalps and politically damaged others.

What is confirmed is that the Galway player who won €7.3 million in last Saturday week’s National Lottery draw, purchased their Quick Pick ticket at Rogan’s Gala store in Clifden.

But the rumour in Connemara, and elsewhere in County Galway, is that the politically-connected lucky winner was either at the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner at the Clifden Station House, or was related to one of the attendees.

Although the winning ticket was purchased days before the Tuesday and Wednesday golf outings, a number of attendees had been staying in the wider Connemara area in the week prior to the event, which is under investigation by Gardaí for alleged breaches of Covid-19 public health guidelines.

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