Galway GAA and a Kildare family were both big winners at the weekend at the conclusion of the successful Win A Home in Galway draw.
Biggest winners were Galway GAA who trousered a cool €1million profit to be spent on games infrastructure in the city and county, showing the pulling power of a major prize such as an apartment.
However, for winner Susie Boyle and her family from Naas, the news came when she was in Dublin Airport getting ready to fly to Australia.
“We’re absolutely delighted. I was in the airport heading to Australia on Friday when I got the call.
“I actually thought it was a prank. You never think it’s going to be you,” said Susie on behalf of her mother and two brothers who all have an equal share in the prize.
The draw has proven to be the most rewarding fundraising initiative the county has undertaken and yielded the massive profit.
Chairman Paul Bellew was delighted with the response.
“We are thankful to everyone who participated in the draw, those who purchased a ticket, and the many that sold them.
“We want to thank our partners Paul Byrnes Media and Sixtwo Digital. In particular I want to pay tribute to Mark Gottsche and Mike Burke who set out the vision and plan for this campaign and delivered on it,” he said.
The money raised from the draw will be ring-fenced for investment in infrastructure over the coming years.
“We say a huge thanks to the clubs of Galway. They supported this draw from the outset and we had a 98% take up in terms of participation which was optional.
“Many went above and beyond in terms of selling their allocation, and we are delighted to be able to reward them further for doing so,” he concluded.
