A New Life:Winning the Lotto gave Nicholas Fogarty a chance to change his life but his choice of career was an unusual one, writes Michael Kelly
When any syndicate wins the lottery there are always tales of people who got in, or out, just before the big win. The year before 47-year-old Nicholas Fogarty's syndicate scooped the jackpot in 2000, his own father decided he wanted out.
Surely, if ever there was the potential for bad blood in a family this is it? "Not at all. He was thrilled for us," says Fogarty of his late father.
"He asked me how much we won and when I told him he said 'That's not enough at all. Wasn't I lucky to get out when I did!'"
Having worked as a data processor in IAWS in Dublin during the 1980s, Fogarty returned to his native Portlaw, married a local girl and bought a newsagent shop in the town.
He remembers clearly his first exposure to the lottery. "Around 1987 I saw an ad in the paper looking for agents so we got involved early and started selling tickets. I was always good with numbers and I love finding ways of beating the system so I set up a syndicate in 1988.
"I knew we needed 21 members to cover the range of numbers properly. I always believe that to succeed with something you have to see the end result before you start so I had everyone convinced we would win. Absolutely convinced.
"It took 12 years, but we got there eventually."
He shows me the giant cardboard cheque for £1.4 million that the National Lottery presented to the syndicate.
"I remember the day well. It was brilliant. We won it on a Wednesday and on the Friday we went up to Dublin in a coach to collect the winnings. There was one cheque and it was made out to me so I was a millionaire for four days.
" I gave it to my uncle to mind because he was a pioneer so I figured that was the safest bet. Then we lodged it in the bank and wrote out cheques to all the syndicate members. There was such a great buzz around the town. It was incredible."
Fogarty's share of the winnings was £113,000. "It was a nice amount to win. It wasn't so much that we were getting begging letters or anything. Mostly people just wished us well.
"In the main, people in the syndicate paid off mortgages and that kind of thing. I continued to work in the shop and rather than spend the money foolishly I wanted to invest it so I bought a pub in the town with my sister-in-law. We agreed that she would run it."
They named the pub The Cotton Mill after the business which the Malcolmsons established in Portlaw in 1825.
Fogarty found himself disillusioned behind the counter in the shop and increasingly looking for alternatives.
"The way the grocery business is going, you either have to expand or get out. I was getting tired of being involved in a job 24/7 and having less and less time off so I sold the shop to a friend who was also in the syndicate.
"It wasn't an option to go work in the pub. My sister-in-law was already doing a good job running it. It was very successful so if I had arrived in on top of her it would have been a case of too many chiefs."
In the summer of 2004 he got in to a career which not many opt for - pest control.
"I saw an ad in the paper advertising a job in Rentokil as a surveyor so I decided to go for it. I had a friend working there and knew they were a decent company to work for so I applied for the job and got it.
"I look after Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. I go along, talk to the customer about their problem - it could be a rat or mice or whatever - and give them the cost of sorting it.
"Then I will organise a technician to come along and sort it out. A lot of our work is about prevention; putting maintenance contracts in place to keep pests at bay."
He admits it's an odd career choice for a lotto winner. "I like to achieve things and sales is a challenge. I get to meet lots of interesting people and really enjoy the work. I just think you have to keep yourself busy.
"If you don't, the man above will find something to keep you busy. Sure what would I be doing if I wasn't working? Sitting at home, watching TV and drinking beer? I'd go off me head. If I won £10 million I'd still feel the same."
Fogarty is now studying part-time for a diploma in life coaching.
"It's such a buzzword at the moment to the extent that it's almost a cliche but it's really powerful stuff. I have always been interested in self-development and new ways of thinking.
"We have 70,000 thoughts every day and 50,000 of them are the same thoughts as the day before. Life coaching is all about how changing the way you think can lead to permanent positive changes in your life. I am hoping to qualify in May and after that we will see what happens."
So does he still do the Lotto? "Oh yeah, the syndicate is still going strong.
"We fully expect to win the Euro Millions next."
Sure what would I be doing if I wasn't working? Sitting at home, watching TV? If I won £10 million I'd still feel the same