Lotto family to raise the bar with eye on plush pad

LOTTO millionaire Paul Cunningham is poised to go from bar manager to bar owner thanks to a luxury dream home.

The Irish Examiner has learnt down-to-earth Mr Cunningham, who quit his job as the manager of Cork’s Berehaven Bar, and his wife Helen are very interested in splashing out €1.3 million on a plush home near Blarney, Co Cork, that boasts its own fully equipped outdoor bar.

Mr Cunningham called time on his €30,000-a-year job the morning after his family won the country’s biggest-ever Lotto prize two weeks ago. But friends said he obviously wants to keep his hand in pulling pints, judging by his choice of potential new home.

Lauriston is a 4,100sq ft, five-bedroom property protected by high hedges and electronic gates, high above Blarney village.

Its bar, which has ladies’ and gents’ toilets, stands on the one acre of manicured grounds around the property.

Reports last week suggested the family were hoping to buy in the Whitechurch area, but sources close to the family say they are anxious to buy Lauriston.

It is listed for sale with local auctioneer Dan Fleming, who declined to comment yesterday.

“I don’t know the Cunninghams,” he said.

“I can neither confirm nor deny their interest. I deal mostly with farms but there are five people working in my office.”

The bar also boasts an 8m indoor heated pool.

The home has a stylish, spacious and bright entrance hall with porcelain tiles and a beautiful cut-stone feature table. The kitchen boasts top-of-the-range appliances and a breakfast counter.

The centrepiece of the naturally lit dining area is an Italian cream marble table and chairs.

The Cunninghams could entertain visitors in any one of the property’s three elegant reception rooms — the largest of which is a sun room overlooking the front and private rear gardens.

The main living room has a marble fireplace and French doors leading to the mature gardens. The master bedroom has impressive French fitted units with more than enough storage space.

Its ensuite has a Jacuzzi bath.

The swimming pool area has a mini-gym and a lounge looking out over private decking, which has a timber gazebo, a hot tub, and a private children’s play area.

The house is being offered for sale with all the fittings, fixtures and furniture — including four plasma TVs.

Friends said the family hope to move from their modest, three-bedroom, semi-detached home off Fairhill to Lauriston within weeks.

They spotted the home while house-hunting from their base at the three-star Vienna Woods Hotel.

The couple have been staying there with their five children — Paul, 27, Stephen, 25, Shane, 23, Amy, 20, and Sarah, 15 — since hitting the jackpot.

Mr Cunningham had to organise his first passport and the family are due to go on a two-week luxury cruise this week — their first family holiday in more than a decade.

Sources close to the family also suggested Paul Jnr and Stephen are planning to spend some of their windfall on top-of-the-range, customised BMWs.

Amy drives a Rover and is also hoping to upgrade.