An American woman who won a cottage in the west of Ireland through a raffle has collected the keys to her new home.
Kathleen Spangler from Chicago won the home called Butterfly Cottage in an online raffle hosted by the owner Imelda Collins.
The draw for the home took place on 22 May 2025.
The Co Leitrim cottage, which is worth €300,000, was sold by Ms Collins through an online raffle and generated €1.2m in gross ticket revenue. It is understood Ms Collins will have to pay various fees such as €25,000 in marketing costs and €2,600 in affiliate fees. Raffall, the lottery agent she chose also takes 10%.
Ms Collins will also pay 33% in capital gains tax along with agreeing to pay the winner's stamp duty and legal fees as part of the prize.
Ms Collins said the more she learned about Kathleen, the more she was "convinced" the house was "meant to be hers".
Ms Spangler's grandmother is from Mayo, and her great grandfather is from Sligo, and she spent her honeymoon in Leitrim in 2022.
Ms Spangler received Irish citizenship in 2024.
Collecting the keys this afternoon, Ms Spangler said "this whole experience has been a dream".
Watch our video to see the keys collected to Butterfly Cottage.
