Tributes and condolences are flowing in for Shawn Keeley, an Irish Lotto winner in his 30s who passed away suddenly but peacefully in the Philippines over the weekend.
Shawn became an instant millionaire when he won £1 million (€1.1 million) from a scratch card he purchased in 2020 while working as the manager of Eurospar in Dungiven, Co Derry. The winning card was a ‘£50M Mega Cash Showdown’ Scratchcard bought from McNicholl’s Eurospar in Dungiven.
Having recently resided in the Philippines, Shawn’s unexpected death has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt messages from those who knew him.
One friend expressed disbelief at his passing, praising Shawn as someone who could light up any room with his presence. Another former colleague shared fond memories of working together and offered condolences to Shawn’s family.
Announcing Shawn’s passing, McLaughlin Funeral Directors in Dungiven posted a notice on social media, detailing his peaceful departure on May 23, 2026. Shawn was remembered as the beloved son of Tiney and Noel, a loving brother, and a cherished partner to E.J. The notice mentioned arrangements for a wake and funeral to be announced later.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Shawn were suggested to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) through McLaughlin Funeral Directors or an online donation link provided.
Reflecting on his lottery win, Shawn recalled the moment he realized he had become a millionaire, attributing the stroke of luck to purchasing scratch cards with his winnings from a previous game.
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