Irish Republican News · August 7, 2005

Unprecedented lottery win for Limerick woman

Limerick housewife Dolores McNamara has collected the biggest jackpot in European Lottery history, sustaining frenzied tabloid coverage of the extraordinary windfall.

After four days of hiding, the Mrs McNamara finally braved the attention to collect her 115 million Euro cheque.

The mother-of-six, from Garryowen in Limerick, looked shocked and said nothing as she was escorted into the National Lottery offices.

Mrs McNamara was alongside her solicitor, David Sweeney, as he said: “Dolores is absolutely thrilled with her win but realises that it will take some time for the implications of her win to sink in.

“Up to now, Dolores has lived a very happy and contented life among her family, friends and neighbours and it is her sincere desire that she and her family will return to normality as soon as possible.”

Mr Sweeney, who was sitting beside the 45-year-old woman, added: “She is absolutely determined that her feet and the feet of her family will remain firmly on the ground. To achieve this, she will need the support of her friends and she knows that she can rely on this support.”

Mrs McNamara was accompanied by a close family friend Paddy Tobin, whose brother owns the Track Bar in Limerick, where she celebrated her win.

Her good fortune, discovered as she sat in the bar, created a tidal wave of interest that has generated immense pressure for the family woman.

Mrs McNamara joked that she was married as the Lottery director planted a kiss on her cheek. Mr Sweeney said the housewife’s first priority is her husband, Adrian, and their six children, Dawn, 28, Kim, 22, Kevanne, 20, Gary, 26, Dean, 15 and her 13-year-old son Lee.

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