Lottery Noels Are On A Roll With It!

As Oasis prepare to make their long-awaited return to Irish shores, the National Lottery has taken a deep dive into historic winner's data – and as turns out, the Gallagher rivalry extends right into the Jackpot stakes.

Data doesn’t lie and, in this race, the winner is… Noel! So what do we know:

Since 1988, players named Noel have appeared as winners of high tier prizes* 18% more often that those named Liam! Meaning the Noel’s come out on top ahead of the Liam’s in this Gallagher rivalry. And if you happen to be from Mayo, like Peggy Gallagher, mother to Noel and Liam, you’re certainly not looking back in anger. The county has produced a whopping 209 National Lottery winners since its inception in 1988 – giving a new meaning to “west is best”! With the band back together, and the nation gearing up for a nostalgia-fuelled singalong, the National Lottery is tipping its bucket hat to all past winners, especially the Noels, Liams, and indeed victorious Mayo locals.

Meanwhile, We’re On A Roll With It, as this Wednesday’s Lotto Jackpot rolls to an estimated €15 Million. Lotto players dreaming of becoming Ireland’s next Millionaire are reminded that tickets can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or at www.lottery.ie ahead of the 7.45pm cut-off time for sales on Wednesday evening. Because maybe... it could be you!

Darragh O’Dwyer, National Lottery spokesperson said: “With Oasis returning to Irish stages, we thought it was the perfect time to explore how the Gallagher rivalry plays out in our own records. Looking at historic data, we’ve seen more high tier wins associated with the name Noel than Liam, an interesting coincidence that adds a fun twist to the excitement around the band’s reunion. Whether you're a Noel, a Liam, or from Mayo like the Gallaghers themselves, it's always fascinating to see the stories behind our winners.”

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2024 alone, €239.3 Million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.

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*Statistics compiled from National Lottery prize claims data from draw based games from 1st April 1988 – 31st June 2025. High tier prizes are defined as prizes in excess of €15,000 (€10,000 for online wins).

National Lottery draw based games include: Lotto, EuroMillions, Daily Million, Millionaire Raffle & Telly Bingo.