Last Saturday night, 20 July, Mary Dinneen of West Street, Tallow was sitting at home on her own watching the Big Money Game on RTE 1 when the draw began for the following week’s contestants. Mary’s name was called out loud and clear and so the buzz began!

“I was completely amazed when my name came out” Mary told The Avondhu. “To be chosen out of all those people!” “We didn’t sleep since.”

The excitement is building all the time and the phone has been hopping since Mary’s name was called. “People are very nice,” said Mary, with many friends and locals congratulating her and wishing her well for Saturday.

For Mary, buying scratchcards and entering draws is a sort of hobby, which she has enjoyed all her life. “Everyplace I go, I buy a scratchcard,” said Mary.

It has almost become a tradition for Mary to buy a scratchcard or do the lotto as soon as she arrives at a place. “Where ever I’d be I’d get one,” she said.

Her lucky charm, St Anthony, has been kind to her over the years, winning her a car in a competition a number of years ago as well as a few euros from scratchcards and tickets here and there. Mary hopes her luck will be in on Saturday but is more than happy to have gotten this far as it is.

“Anything at all I’ll get, I’ll be delighted,” said Mary. “It’s a great buzz,” she added.

With a routine of doing Telly Bingo three times a week and the Lotto two times a week, Mary is no stranger to going with her gut and taking a chance.

Mary and her husband Matty will travel up to Dublin on Friday where they will stay with their daughters Siobhan and Shiela, who both live in the capital. It’s a great occasion for Mary and all her family and we wish her well on the programme. The Big Money Game will be aired on this Saturday at 8.35pm on RTE 1.