A delighted Limerick woman has officially claimed the biggest ever lottery prize won in Europe after she picked up a cheque for the massive sum of €115 million in Dublin today.
Dolores McNamara (50), from Garryowen in Limerick arrived at National Lottery headquarters in Abbey Street at around 2.30pm, where the money she scooped in last Friday's EuroMillions draw was awaiting collection.
The mother of six children arrived in style in a 03 Jaguar, accompanied by her solicitor David Sweeney and a close family friend Pat Tobin.
A major media circus surrounded her visit to the national lottery office and staff were clearly delighted that the spotlight was thrown on the Irish lottery as a result of the win. Millions of people all over Europe bought tickets for the draw last Friday hoping to win even a small share, but Ms McNamara's quick pick ticket was the sole winner of the huge prize.
It was also the first ever EuroMillions ticket she had purchased.
Ms McNamara was presented with her cheque by National Lottery director Ray Bates, who kissed her for the benefit of the baying media mob and smiled as he poured her a glass of champagne.
National Lottery staff had instructed the media that the winner would not answer questions. Instead, her solicitor read a short statement in which he said she was "absolutely thrilled" with the win but that she needed time to let it sink in.
He said she was determined her feet will stay "firmly on the ground". She had agreed to the photocall today in the hope she could bring closure to all the attention brought on by the win. And he appealed on her behalf for the media to allow her some space.
Reporters, television cameras and photographers from all over Europe have been camped outside the National Lottery offices since Monday morning hoping the newly minted multi-millionaire would show.
But Ms McNamara spent some days away from her home with friends in order to think about her win.
She is believed to have been living in luxury in a hotel in Cork, with her husband Adrian, several of her children and friends, since she learned of her win. However, she arrived in Dublin last night prompting expectations she would turn up to collect the prize today. It has taken almost three days to gather all the money from the countries participating in the EuroMillions draw.
As Ms McNamara arrived, curious members of the public eager to catch perhaps their only likely glimpse ever of a cheque for €115 million gathered with the media on Abbey Street.
But none of them made it past the battalion of gardai and National Lottery staff guarding the door.