By Sean Moriarty

The family of a Fossa woman who won a classic car in a raffle said the win was “totally unexpected".

WINNING TICKET: Jordan Lee is watched by Brendan Fuller as he pulls out the winning tickets.

WINNERS: Alan and Meabh Swarbuck accept the Toyota Starlet on behalf of Meabh's mother Mary Terry. Photo: Sean Moriarty

CLUB: Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club members and supporters at Kellihers Garage in Tralee. Photo: Sean Moriarty

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PRIZE: Alan and Meabh Swarbuck accept the Toyota Starlet on behalf of Meabh's mother Mary Terry. Photo: Sean Moriarty

CROWD:Some of the large crowd that attended Thursday night's raffle. Photo: Sean Moriarty

TOP SELLER: Thresa Looney of the Irish Kidney Association with Brenda Houlihan Tralee who sold 145 ticket for the draw: Photo: Sean Moriarty

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club drew the winning tickets for its annual raffle on Thursday evening (November 24) at Kelliher’s Garage in Tralee.

The top prize was a 40-year-old Toyota Starlet that was lovingly restored by the members of club earlier this year.

Members sold tickets over the past six months to support four local charities which included the Irish Kidney Association Kerry Branch, Killarney Valley Athletic Club, Recovery Haven and Cuan Mhuire.

The winning ticket was drawn by Radio Kerry DJ Brendan Fuller and Toyota brand ambassador Jordan Lee.

Mary Terry from Fossa was the lucky winner of the car but she was not present at the draw.

However, members of the club contacted her family and her daughter Meabh, son-in-law Alan and her two grandsons Finian and Keelan made their way from Fossa to Tralee just in time for the tail end of the celebrations.

“This is a big surprise, it is totally unexpected,” said her daughter Meabh Swarbuck.

“We gave mam a ring on the way over, she is unsure what to do with the car. She is 77 and still driving.”

Her two sons are members of Killarney Valley Athletic Club, one of the beneficiaries of the raffle and the winning ticket was sold by athletic club members Breeda Stack who has sold the winning ticket on three of the last four times the vintage club has run a fundraising raffle.

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club chairman, James Looney, thanked everyone who has supported this and other restoration raffles over the years.

“This is the fourth time that the top prize has not left the county,” he told the large crowd gathered in Kelliher’s Toyota showroom in Tralee.

Entertainment was provide by Killarney School Of Music and refreshments from Kathleen, Mags and Sylvia of Ross Cafe Killarney.

“Huge thanks go to Brendan Fuller as our Master of Ceremony and we were also honoured to have Paralympian Jordan Lee help us draw out the winning tickets on the night,” said club secretary Rich O’Donoghue.

“A huge thank you again to our many sponsors and supporters who made the restoration possible.”

The other lucky winners on the night were:

2nd prize €1,000 cash - Lauren McGilloway

3rd prize €500 voucher - O'Callaghan Coaches, Ken Manley

4th prize €250 voucher - Castleisland Tyre Centre Brendan O’Reilly

5th prize €150 voucher - Garret's Restaurant Killarney, Mary O'Shea

6th prize 30 bags of turf - Tommy Drumm