24th January 2014
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
There were great celebrations at National Lottery offices this
afternoon as Mary O’Driscoll from Whitegate, Co. Cork picked up a big
cheque for €350,000. The lucky Co. Cork woman won the top prize in
last Saturday’s Lotto Plus 1 draw (18 January 2014).
Mary was accompanied by her husband Tony, and National Lottery agents
Kevin and Mary Day of Eurospar, Whitehead, Midleton, Co. Cork, where
Mary bought her winning ticket. She is the fourth generation of her
family to shop at Days in Whitegate, which was established in 1890.
Lucky Mary won her big €350,000 prize by playing her regular numbers –
6, 9, 13, 15, 16 and 17, which make-up the birthdays of her four
children – Rachel, Ellen, Anthony and Damien, her husband Tony and her
own birthday.
Mary was on her own on Saturday night when she found out the great
news that she’d won.
“My daughter is getting married in February, and Rachel and Ellen were
out on the hen party. Anthony and Damien were minding the children,
and Tony was out at Ballycotton Lighthouse. I logged on to the
Lottery website on my IPad and I couldn’t believe it – there were my
numbers!” said delighted Mary.
“I was shaking with shock. I called my son and he told me to drive
over but I said ‘I’m not in a fit state to operate a car!!’” she
smiled. “So I had a drink and I went to bed!”
Mary, who also has 12 grandchildren, says that her win has come at a
perfect time with her daughter soon-to-be married.