We’re in the money! Gang of 32 toast €1m Lotto win
WAYNE O’Neill might have just picked up a cool €1million lottery cheque, but he won’t be quitting his job just yet – as that’s where the rest of his fellow winners will be.
The group of 32 workmates from at Ballingly Joinery in Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford, had a ‘nervy’ wait as they scooped the prize nearly three weeks after purchasing their winning ticket.
Mr O’Neill, 35, who manages the syndicate, spoke yesterday about the excitement and disbelief that they felt when they heard about a big win in the area. He said: ‘After the draw that Saturday night, one of the syndicate members logged on to the National Lottery app and saw that the €1million prize was won in Wellingtonbridge where we purchased our ticket.
‘We knew there was a special promotion on that night and that a raffle winner would definitely win the bigger prize, so we were well and truly hopeful at that stage. I was quick to check our ticket after hearing that and I could see that we had the raffle number, but I wasn’t sure if it was just the €500 that we won or the special raffle prize of the additional €1million.’
Almost three weeks since their numbers came up, it’s been a ‘very nervy wait, but exciting’.
They each will pick up a handy sum of just over €31,000.
Mr O’Neill added: ‘It’s a good whack of money. Mine, personally, will be going towards a deposit for a house; myself and my wife have been saving for a few years, so this will push us over the line.
‘The rest of us will do a lot of different things, a lot are only after building houses so they will get them finished now. It will help a lot of people massively.’
Asked if they will all stay at work, he replied: ‘Oh yeah… It wouldn’t be enough money to not. It’s a brilliant feeling and great to enjoy it with friends and work colleagues.
We’re all delighted. We’ll have more than a few pints tonight!’
His wife Shannon is ‘delighted too’ and both hope they’ll now find the home of their dreams.
While the recent St Brigid’s bank holiday was welcomed by the rest of the nation, the group found the extra day to be a bit of a burden. Mr O’Neill explained: ‘That particular weekend was a bank holiday which meant that it was Tuesday before I could confirm our win with the claims team, so to say it felt like the longest bank holiday weekend in history would be an understatement. I must have been first on the phone on Tuesday morning. As soon as I spoke to the guys in claims and they gave me the news I had been hoping for, I was straight into our syndicate WhatsApp group to share the news.
‘I think everyone was waiting in anticipation because the phone was hopping with calls and texts for days after. I thought I might have to leave the group or switch the phone off for a bit of peace!’