No win for Kerry, but Rathmore man Ger’s on a winning streak

HE may have had to miss the Kerry v Dublin game and cancel a rallying weekend to appear on Winning Streak, but both sacrifices paid off for Ger Somers from Rathmore.

The Kerry man returned home with a cool €33,000 from the National Lottery game-show.

It was a Christmas present from his mother, Síle, which resulted in Ger’s appearance on Winning Streak, and she was in the audience to support him on the night along with his partner, Jean, and son, Colin.

The ticket was purchased in the Applegreen station on Muckross Road in Killarney and Ger was delighted when it revealed the three lucky stars.

Ger realised he was one of the lucky participants on this week’s show while he was at a neighbour’s birthday party.

He had only arrived with his partner, Jean, when a call came through to him informing him that his name had been selected to appear on Winning Streak the following week.

He went to the living room and turned on the show to see if this was true. All the while, word spread throughout the party, and once he was sure it was his name, he unwittingly stole his neighbour’s thunder.

Ger has been overwhelmed by the good wishes and positive messages he has received from his friends and neighbours in Rathmore; the whole town was glued to RTÉ One last Saturday evening.

Ger has been with Jean for more than 24 years and he has one son, Colin (11), who was buzzing with excitement to support his dad at Winning Streak. He had been busy making banners in school last week for the studio audience.

Ger’s brother and sister, Ciaran and Catherine, were also in attendance.

Ger is self-employed and works as a machine operator in the local county council water services department.

In his spare time, Ger is a big rally-driving and motorsport fan and is frequently a navigator for rally drivers.

Last weekend he was supposed to take part in a rally in Donegal but had to cancel to be on Winning Streak. He is also a big GAA fan, and he and his supporters rushed back to their hotel after the show to watch Kerry seal a last-gasp draw with Dublin.

Photo by Mac Innes Photography Ger Somers from Rathmore with Marty Whelan, Winning Streak co-host; Jim O’Connor, The National Lottery; and Sinead Kennedy, Winning Streak co-host. The winning ticket was bought from Applegreen, Muckross Road, Klllarney.