Mayo woman wins competition worth €12,000
Freda Gray, centre, was announced as the winner of the Golden Ticket — a prize valued at over €12,000, which grants two free tickets to every show at the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar, throughout 2026.
A Midwest Radio listener from Shrule is celebrating an extraordinary prize after winning the coveted Golden Ticket on The Late Late Lunchbox with Padraic Walsh last week.
Freda Gray was announced as the winner of the Golden Ticket — a prize valued at over €12,000, which grants two free tickets to every show at the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar, throughout 2026.
The Golden Ticket was awarded following the station’s popular Beat The Alphabet Quiz, a fast-paced, 40-second general knowledge challenge that airs twice daily.
Contestants race against the clock to answer as many alphabet-based questions as possible, with scores accumulated across the week. The top scorer usually claims the prize, but last Friday’s competition ended in an unusual three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
With no separating the three finalists on points, a live on-air draw was held to determine the winner.
During The Late Late Lunchbox, a name had to be pulled from a hat. In a moment that had listeners across the region tuned in, Freda Gray’s name was selected, securing her the ultimate theatre prize.
The Golden Ticket is one of the most sought-after prizes ever offered by the TF Royal Theatre. With access to every comedy show, concert, tribute act, family production and special event scheduled for 2026, the winner and a guest will enjoy a full year of world-class live entertainment in the heart of Castlebar.
Speaking about the prize, Fiona Coyne, Marketing Manager at the TF Royal Theatre, said: “The Golden Ticket is an incredible prize and one we know theatre lovers truly dream about. To be able to offer two tickets to every single show in 2026, valued at over €12,000, is something very special. We love seeing the excitement it creates, and Freda is going to have an unforgettable year at the TF Royal Theatre.”
Following the excitement of Freda’s win, the TF Royal Theatre has confirmed that another Golden Ticket competition is now live, giving theatre fans a fresh chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime prize. Entries are open now via tfroyal.ie, where full details and terms of the competition are available.
