A Whole Lotto Love

Yonkers Lotto Winner Credits Irish Luck And Love For $41,000,000 Windfall

Niamh Finnan of Yonkers is $41,000,000 richer thanks to a "powerful combination" of Irish luck and love.

The 44-year-old dental hygienist from County Kildare, Ireland, claimed the sole jackpot-winning ticket for the May 16 Lotto drawing worth $41,000,000.

"My husband's the one who spent $10 on a ticket," explained Finnan, who settled in Yonkers 25 years ago. "He picked the numbers himself for the first eight games and, fortunately for us, he also asked for two sets of Quick Pick numbers to make an even 10. None of his numbers matched, but the very first set of Quick Pick numbers did."

Finnan said she learned of the couple's good fortune during a frantic, transatlantic phone call from her husband. "I was in Ireland visiting family when (Donal) called with the news. I made him repeat it to my mother to make sure he was telling the truth. I knew by the tone of his voice it was true." Upon her sooner-than-expected return from Ireland, Finnan said her husband of five years presented her with the $41,000,000 winning ticket to claim in her name "as a gesture of love."

Both Finnans said they plan to stay in Yonkers and continue working, she as a dental hygienist and he as a foreman for the New York City-based Broadway Concrete Company.

"This is just icing on the cake," she said. "A chance to fix up the house, add a new bathroom; get a new garden shed. We'll take care of family. We have no real plans set in stone."

Finnan claimed her $41,000,000 prize on June 15, 2009 at the Lottery's customer service center in Fishkill, after a full month of safeguarding the winning ticket.

"We wanted to take care of our affairs and get proper advice," she said of the delay. "The ticket was in the bank the whole time."

Finnan will receive her prize in one lump sum payment totaling $23,269,397, less required tax withholdings. Her net check will total $15,156,057.

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.54 billion in fiscal year 2008-09 to help support education in New York State, over 12 percent of total state education funding to local school districts. The Lottery's ongoing commitment to education also includes the awarding of more than 1,100 Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarships annually to high school students pursuing their higher education in New York State.

Since 1999, the Lottery has awarded more than 11,500 scholarships representing a total commitment of almost $50 million. The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $36.7 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.