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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: The trouble with EuroMillions – Dolores McNamara's €115m win, 20 years on
Dolores McNamara was enjoying a night out with her friends when the EuroMillions draw flashed up on the TV screen. The multi-million lottery bonanza was relatively new in Ireland in the summer of 2005, and the last thing Ms McNamara expected was for her impulse buy of a €2 ticket to pay off. Once the draw was announced, things would never be the same for Dolores McNamara, now a jaw-dropping €115 million better off. The beaming winner presented herself to the public upon picking up the novelty-sized cheque, though an avalanche of attention and subsequent distressing incidents perhaps contributed to her retreat from the spotlight. 20 years on, what became of Dolores McNamara and her many millions? On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tabitha Monahan is joined by Irish Independent southern correspondent Ralph Riegel to look back on one of the most lucrative stories in modern Irish history.
Dublin Live
25-06-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Irish EuroMillions winner paid terrifying price for becoming country's 58th richest person
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The largest ever EuroMillions jackpot was won in Ireland in recent days – with the lucky ticket holder now €250million richer. And the National Lottery has since confirmed the golden ticket was sold by a retailer in Cork, with a spokesperson saying they were giving the winner the necessary time to 'let this life-changing news sink in'. But a woman called Dolores McNamara, who used to be a part time cleaner, can attest to the fact that the absurd amount of money may never sink in. She was once the record holder, after winning a cool €115million on the EuroMillions back in 2005. Next month will even mark the 20 year anniversary from when she scooped the eye-watering prize. But despite the elation, the money has also been a poisoned chalice, and below we look back at her extraordinary story. Dolores, a mum-of-six, was not in the privacy of her home in Limerick when she realised she had suddenly become the 58th richest person in Ireland at the time. (Image: PA) Instead, the then 45-year-old was sat in her local pub, the Track Bar, and she put her €2 lottery ticket on a table and told one of her friends: 'Check that for me.' The draw was being shown live on the television and within seconds Dolores was in floods of tears. A barmaid, who was there at the time, once said: 'Then the drink started flowing and the champagne was poured and we had a great night celebrating. Dolores is a real nice woman and none of her friends believe this will change her drastically.' After it became national news, her solicitor released a statement, saying their client had a 'desire to return to normality as soon as possible'. He added: 'She is absolutely determined that her feet and the feet of her family, will remain firmly on the ground.' Unfortunately for Dolores, returning to 'normality' was never really an option, and the riches came with certain complexities. However, what it did do was purchase a huge and extravagant house called Lough Derg Hall. The €1.75m property in Killaloe, Clare, with stunning lakeside views, reportedly was once of interest to acting superstar Robert De Niro. (Image: Press Association) She also snapped up six homes in the Limerick area for her six kids – Dawn, Gary, Kim, Kevanne, Dean and Lee. Despite the joys of being able to set her loved ones up for life, the endless cash brought darker consequences, including Dolores having to purchase 24/7 security at her home. This was after multiple sinister kidnapping threats and it was also reported that her children each had a panic button in case an ugly scenario happened. Her son, his partner and their child were also said to have moved home to stay in a private location after a kidnapping plot where a local gang was rumoured to be planning an abduction. Dolores meanwhile was also involved in a road crash in 2015 and the case continued for years until she finally got a settlement of almost €8,500. Heartbreak followed in recent times after her husband, Adrian, a bricklayer who had invested in his own racecourse because of the lotto scoop, died in 2021. He was only in his 60s and he passed away after an illness. (Image: PA) Dolores is now 64 and the grandmother-of-nine tends to avoid the public eye as much as possible. Speaking to the press is not something Dolores does, despite the huge interest in her win, and her only interview came with her local Limerick Leader paper. She said: 'The question that has been asked of me most frequently was how I felt about my win and my answer is still the same - I feel disbelief and shock. Buying a ticket for that Euro jackpot was a spur of the moment decision. I'd actually gone into the shop to buy a top-up for my phone and just asked the lady for a Lotto ticket.'
Sunday World
20-06-2025
- Business
- Sunday World
Revealed: The Cork shop which sold this week's €250m Euromillions ticket
The Rebel County retail store made history this week after they sold Tuesday's whopping €250 million EuroMillions jackpot ticketIreland's newest multimillionaire has made contact with the Prize Claims teamThis person is the 18th winner in Ireland of the EuroMillions jackpot since it started in 2004 The winning EuroMillions ticket was bought in Cork. Photo: Stock image The record-breaking winning Euromillions ticket was sold at Clifford's Centra, Shandon Street in Cork city, it has been confirmed this morning. The shop, at 91 Shandon Street, is located on the northside of the city. The Rebel County retail store made history this week after they sold Tuesday's whopping €250 million EuroMillions jackpot ticket. And – although there has been no sight of the winner yet – the National Lottery also confirmed yesterday the Ireland's newest multimillionaire has made contact with the Prize Claims team. The contact came after days of speculation as to who the winner of the life-changing amount is. The winning EuroMillions ticket was bought in Cork. Photo: Stock image News in 90 Seconds - June 20th This person is the 18th winner in Ireland of the EuroMillions jackpot since it started in 2004. Speaking yesterday after the winner made contact, spokesperson for the National Lottery Emma Monaghan said; "We are absolutely thrilled to have heard from our EuroMillions winner. "At this point, our priority is to give them the necessary time and space to make arrangements and let this life-changing news sink in.' The record-breaking win surpasses the €175m record for the largest cheque ever presented to an Irish player, in February 2019. The winning numbers this week were: 13, 22, 23, 44 ,49 and the Lucky Stars were 3 and 5. The National Lottery has urged the winner 'to stay calm, get independent legal and financial advice and contact us as soon as they can'. Dolores McNamara from Limerick was Ireland's first EuroMillions winner, scooping over €115m in July 2005. The jackpot is capped once it reaches €250m. In total, over 92,200 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games on Tuesday night.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's biggest lottery win — €250m EuroMillions jackpot sold on Cork's Shandon Street
The record-breaking EuroMillions ticket, which saw a lucky punter win €250 million on Tuesday, was sold at Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street in Cork city centre. The National Lottery confirmed the news on Friday morning, three days after the player claimed the biggest jackpot in EuroMillions history. They also said that the ticket holder who won the record jackpot has since contacted the Prize Claims team. The winning numbers were: 13, 22, 23, 44, 49. The two Lucky Stars were 3 and 5. Ireland's first EuroMillions winner was Dolores McNamara from County Limerick, who won €115 million in July 2005. She held the record for a long time until 2019, when a family syndicate from The Naul in County Dublin won €175.4 million in the EuroMillions. Until Tuesday, that win remained the largest lottery prize ever won in the country. Read More 'I'd buy Páirc Uí Chaoimh back from the GAA, put Cork City in there like they were in the 70s'
Irish Independent
20-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Revealed: The Cork shop which sold this week's €250m Euromillions ticket
The Rebel County retail store made history this week after they sold Tuesday's whopping €250 million EuroMillions jackpot ticketIreland's newest multimillionaire has made contact with the Prize Claims teamThis person is the 18th winner in Ireland of the EuroMillions jackpot since it started in 2004 The record-breaking winning Euromillions ticket was sold at Clifford's Centra, Shandon Street in Cork city, it has been confirmed this morning. The shop, at 91 Shandon Street, is located on the northside of the city. The Rebel County retail store made history this week after they sold Tuesday's whopping €250 million EuroMillions jackpot ticket. And – although there has been no sight of the winner yet – the National Lottery also confirmed yesterday the Ireland's newest multimillionaire has made contact with the Prize Claims team. The contact came after days of speculation as to who the winner of the life-changing amount is. This person is the 18th winner in Ireland of the EuroMillions jackpot since it started in 2004. Speaking yesterday after the winner made contact, spokesperson for the National Lottery Emma Monaghan said; "We are absolutely thrilled to have heard from our EuroMillions winner. "At this point, our priority is to give them the necessary time and space to make arrangements and let this life-changing news sink in.' The record-breaking win surpasses the €175m record for the largest cheque ever presented to an Irish player, in February 2019. The winning numbers this week were: 13, 22, 23, 44 ,49 and the Lucky Stars were 3 and 5. The National Lottery has urged the winner 'to stay calm, get independent legal and financial advice and contact us as soon as they can'. Dolores McNamara from Limerick was Ireland's first EuroMillions winner, scooping over €115m in July 2005. The jackpot is capped once it reaches €250m. In total, over 92,200 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games on Tuesday night.
