John collects €22,000 on Winning Streak gameshow
A WICKLOW man has scooped €22,000 on the National Winning Streak TV game show.
John McDonald from Newtownmountkennedy had fallen asleep in front of Winning Streak the previous Saturday evening when his brother Eddie shook him awake and said ‘ That’s you’ – pointing at the television screen, ‘ They pulled out your name’.
John, still in a sleepy haze, waited until the end credits until he saw his name and address in full before he started to believe it.
Since then John says he has never seen so many good luck cards or received so many calls to the house from well-wishers and his neighbours and friends in Newtownmountkennedy. He also admitted that he had been struggling to get a good night’s sleep in anticipation of his Winning Streak appearance last weekend.
John was born and reared in Newtownmountkennedy where he grew up with his parents and 13 siblings at home.
Now retired, he spent 43 years working for Wicklow County Council, plying his hand at many things such as road maintenance and on the bin lorries among other things. In his retirement, John’s real love is walking. He is well known in the town as a great walker and can cover up to 18 miles a day.
His favourite places to walk is Glendalough and around Lough Tay in Wicklow. He is also an amateur photographer and keeps his trusty hand-held camera with him when he takes his walks. John also likes soccer and is a Manchester United fan and in his younger years he has great memories of getting the boat over to games frequently.