Sponsored Post, By Sonia Butterworth
What. A. Journey.
Just weeks ago, Belfast’s Magdalena Machowska made headlines when she turned down a spectacular Donegal Dream Home raffled by McKinney Competitions, opting instead for the £500,000 cash prize.
That bold decision flung the doors wide open once again, giving one lucky person another shot at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
That person turned out to be Emma Porter from Buncrana, and her story is already the stuff of make-believe
It all began on Sunday, October 5th, when Emma, still in her pyjamas, checked her Revolut account and noticed she had just €14 left. After a moment’s thought, she decided to take a chance and bought a ticket through McKinney Competitions.
The prize of the McKinney Competitions draw was a 5-bed home at Glen Lough OR £500k
Later that morning, she attended Mass, where the priest gave a sermon about keeping the faith.
“He was talking about planting a mustard seed,” Emma recalls. “It can be small, but you have to grow it with faith. I remember thinking, ‘I really, really want that house.’”
That evening, just as she was getting ready for bed, her phone rang.
“Hello, is that Emma Porter?”
“Yes…”
“Well, we’re absolutely delighted to tell you… YOU are the WINNER!”
At first, she was speechless. “Oh my goodness! What?! That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed, live on Facebook as thousands of viewers celebrated alongside her. “That’s fantastic… I don’t even know what to say!” she laughed, overwhelmed by the life-changing moment.
It was one of the most anticipated live draws in McKinney Competitions’ history. Logie and Peter brought their trademark humour and energy as fans affectionately referred to them as “Father Ted and Father Dougal.”
Bonus rounds saw ticket holders from across Ireland, from Carlow to Galway, pocketing hundreds in cash prizes before the tension built for the main event.
Inside the Dungannon studio, the atmosphere was electric. At five past eleven, the team went live. Behind the scenes, the random number generator was quietly set. On camera, the banter flowed, the tension rose, and then the call was made.
Emma’s reaction was pure joy. Her phone lit up the next morning with messages of congratulations from family, friends, and even strangers she said!
And now, the biggest news of all…Emma Porter has officially chosen to take the Donegal Dream Mansion.
Sitting with Logie inside the stunning property just days later, Emma was still in disbelief.
“I was just so stunned and still am,” she said. “This kind of thing never happens to me. I kept going around the house, telling my son Jordan, ‘I think I’ve just won a house… or half a million pounds!’”
Emma Porter with Adrian Logan and family at the Glen House
When asked when she bought the ticket, Emma smiled. “It was that morning,” she said. “I had only €14 left for the week. My son had gone and I transferred him a tenner, and I came back in and sat down and the McKinneys notification popped up and that was it. I didn’t even have enough to buy the bundle so I bought just one ticket and I had €2 left for the rest of the week!”
Buncrana was buzzing with pride the next day. Locals have been quick to congratulate “the Belle of Buncrana,” describing Emma as warm, down-to-earth, and utterly deserving.
Then came the all-important question from Logie.
“So, Emma,” he grinned, “is it the money… or the house?”
Without missing a beat, Emma smiled. “It has to be the house,” she said.
“People have just been so lovely,” Emma added. “Everyone’s genuinely delighted for me.”
An artist by trade, she says the scenery around Glen Lough has already captured her imagination. “It’s just to die for,” she said. “Everywhere you look, it’s a painting waiting to happen.”
The stunning lakeside view from the Donegal Dream Home
McKinney Competitions are renowned for their thoughtful follow-up calls to winners, and true to form, the team rang Emma the next day to make it all official. “That’s when it really hit me,” she laughed. “It was actually real!”
As the cameras rolled, Logie grinned and held out his hand. “Well,” he said, “do me one favour, shake my hand, so a bit of your luck rubs off on me.”
It was a perfect ending to a night no one will forget.
“We’re delighted that Emma fell in love with the house,” said McKinney Competitions Director Paul Gordon.
“She was blown away by the setting, the décor, and all the attention to detail. It’s great to see it go to someone who truly appreciates the magic of the home. That’s what we’re all about making dreams come true, improving lives, and giving back.”
While the Donegal Dream Mansion has now found its perfect owner, McKinney Competitions is already preparing for its next big draw, this time, a stunning villa in Portugal’s Algarve.
So stay tuned because with McKinney, the next life-changing moment is always just around the corner.
Over the past few years, McKinney Competitions has become Ireland’s fastest-growing premium prize platform, delivering over £65 million in prizes to more than 22,000 winners and donating over £550,000 to local charities. From dream homes and luxury cars to massive cash giveaways, they’re not just running competitions — they’re changing lives.
Next up on McKinney Competitions… a Portuguese Villa!
Buncrana artist reveals her choice after brush of luck in Donegal lakeside house draw! was last modified: October 25th, 2025 by Contributor
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