Postman Pat set to make special delivery at Lotto HQ
Last night Mr Broderick was celebrating with his wife Mary and a small number of friends and family in the White House bar in Kinsale after winning one half of the weekend’s bumper €14m Lotto jackpot.
Throughout the day Mr Broderick had been coy about his life-changing €7m jackpot.
When approached yesterday, the beaming father-of-three said: “It could be me, it could be me.
“The question everybody’s asking is, ‘Did Postman Pat win the Lotto?’.”
The rumour mill had been in full force in the Co Cork town from early yesterday morning, as word spread that the father-of-three had scooped a colossal €7 million in Saturday’s draw.
Pat, in his mid 40s, had been spotted dining at a local hotel on Sunday night, but kept his win under wraps as patrons discussed the identity of the mystery winner.
Last night, it was left to a source very close to the family to confirm beyond question that the rumour mill was right and he was definitely the lucky millionaire.
Despite his apparent newfound wealth, the postman of more than 20 years refused to take a day off to celebrate or collect his winnings, opting instead to return to work and deliver mail around the town’s households.
When approached last night at his family home, where two green postal vans were parked outside, he said he had just finished his day’s work.
Happy to pose for a photograph and unable to wipe his smile off his face, he added: “Do I look as if I’ve taken a day off?” he asked.
“Look at me, I’m still in uniform,” he said, grinning outside his family home in Cappagh.
When quizzed further about the win and how he discovered he held the winning ticket, he replied: “All I want to say at this stage is that it could be me.”
A highly respected postman of about 25 years, Pat is also a keen golfer and road bowler.
He wouldn’t have had far to travel to purchase his winning ticket either — as the town’s post office is located next door to SuperValu, which sold the ticket.
Earlier in the day Michael Smith, the shop’s owner, had correctly predicted the Lotto winner wouldn’t be able to keep his newfound millions under wraps.
He said: “If it is someone local, I don’t think he or she will be able to keep the win quiet for long.
“We’re a small town. Everybody is talking about it and the news is bound to get out sooner or later.
“People will be watching as to who buys a new house or car, so it will be very difficult to keep it under wraps.
“The town is buzzing with the news and it’s all anyone is talking about at the moment. It will be nearly impossible to keep it quiet.”
Locals in the bustling town said they were delighted at the news that Pat was the winner.
Insurance broker Padraig Fitzgerald said: “It’s super news. I really hope it is Pat. He’s extremely popular and it’s a huge boost to the town to have a resident win it. There’s been so much doom and gloom recently that this has given everyone here a lift.
“He’s an extremely nice fella and no one here would begrudge him the win.”
Unless Postman Pat is putting on a very good act, it looks like he’ll be driving his van to Lotto HQ very shortly.
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