IRELAND’S latest EuroMillions jackpot winner purchased their ticket a mere hop and a skip from the home of the country’s biggest winner of the Europe-wide lotto draw, Dolores McNamara.
Last Friday’s winning ticket, worth a jaw-dropping €30.9 million, was bought at Larkin’s Gala Service Station, Garryurtneal, Ballina, Killaloe, on the Clare/Tipperary border.
The picturesque twin towns, which are split by the River Shannon, and known to many as the Mid West Rivera, are enveloped by Lough Derg and are popular with sailing and boating enthusiasts.
The winning Quickpick ticket was sold at Larkin’s shop on Sunday, February 6, resulting in Ireland’s 17th EuroMillions jackpot winner.
Siobhan Larkin, who owns the business with her husband Michael, said: “When our visitors from the National Lottery arrived here on Sunday evening, I was totally overwhelmed and in quite a state of shock. I couldn’t believe that it was our store that sold the winning ticket.
“We are coming up to 21 years in business here this March so what a way this is to mark the occasion. The vast majority of our customers are locals, so we hope that the winner might be a local too and wish them all the very best with their huge win.
“It’s become a bit of a running joke now as to where the winning ticket was actually sold because of our unique border location – was it Clare, Limerick or Tipperary?” she added.
Lottery bosses have urged the winner to sign the back of their “life-changing” ticket, keep it in a safe place and make contact with the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie.
The lakeside community is home to Dolores McNamara, originally from Limerick City, who scooped €115 million in the jackpot draw on July 29, 2005.
She won what was then the largest EuroMillions prize after purchasing a €2 Quickpick ticket near her home in Garryowen.
Ms McNamara has built up a portfolio of property investments for her children and grandchildren. Her sons Gary and Lee also live in the area.
The recently widowed mother-of-six lives at Lough Derg Hall, a vast property and estate overlooking Lough Derg.
The 10,000 sq ft hill-top property was purchased for €1.75 million in 2005, after it reportedly attracted the interest of Hollywood actor Robert De Niro.
Set on 38 acres, it includes a coach house, and is a far cry from the modest 1,200 sq ft semi-detached family home Ms McNamara and her late husband Adrian raised their six children at St Patrick’s Road, Limerick.
Adrian McNamara, passed away in his late 60s from illness last April. A hard-working and skilled bricklayer, he kept a low profile and spent most of his time enjoying his passion for horse racing.
