A part-time hospital receptionist has become the first €1 million winner on the National Lottery Winning Streak gameshow.
Ms Teresa Croarkin, from Cortolvin, Co Monaghan, landed the jackpot prize in a special New Year's Eve edition of the show to be broadcast tonight.
The mother of four, who originally hails from Killucan, Co Westmeath, and works at Monaghan General Hospital, was celebrating at home yesterday after the pre-recorded RTÉ show on Monday night.
As well as being the first Winning Streak millionaire, she is the first lottery millionaire from Co Monaghan despite a number of previous lotto winners in the border county.
"It was a great night. All the other contestants were great, as were all the people at the show," said Ms Croarkin last night. "However there was a great crowd to greet us when we got home to Monaghan. All our friends and neighbours from Cortolvin were there. Despite all that went on in Dublin, it was great to get back to Monaghan." She returned home on Monday night with her husband of 18 years Anthony, a self-employed plumber, originally from Tully. The coupled travelled to the Helix Theatre in Dublin in a hired car.
The happy couple, both in their early 40s, with children Claire (15), Orla (13), Anthony (nine) and Thomas (four) say they have no immediate plans for the future, but will sit down and think about it in the New Year.
Ms Croarkin landed the jackpot prize ahead of fellow players Ms Yvonne Dunne, Kilkenny and Ms Kitty McCarthy, Limerick, who won €50,000 and €58,000 respectively.