Lucky double as lottery snapper scoops €17,000
Taxi driver Jackie Greer had exclusive photographs of the weekend’s celebrations at the Track Bar in Garryowen, taken just minutes after the mother-of-six discovered she had won €115 million in Europe’s biggest lottery.
The biggest Lotto jackpot has been €7.8m, won by a player in Cork in 1997.
The amateur photographer was courted by several Sunday newspapers and eventually he sold the celebration snaps to two well-known publications for €16,666.
However, he could have made up to €25,000 for the pictures - but one other newspaper pulled out of the deal at the last minute.
The photographs, taken in Garryowen local, The Track bar, featured Dolores toasting her good fortune with family and friends late into the night.
The owners of Garryowen Stores, where Dolores bought her winning ticket, will also collect €25,000 for their part in the lottery success.
Business was also brisk in The Track Bar yesterday as customers hoped for another glimpse of Dolores, who has not been seen publicly since Friday night’s celebrations.
There was no sign of life yesterday at the family home on St Patrick’s Road on the outskirts of Limerick city. The curtains on her bungalow home remained closed yesterday afternoon and locals said she may have gone into hiding to escape the media frenzy.
Some neighbours thought she may already have left Limerick while others were convinced she was staying with family in the Limerick area.
Ms McNamara won’t be able to get her hands on the money until next week because of the size of her winnings.
In the meantime, it’s understood that her winning ticket is safely locked away in a Limerick bank vault.
Another Irish winner was also celebrating after scooping €677,248 in the Match 5 plus 1 star category.
