‘The famine is over’ as Tipp work friends scoop €17m
THE Stakelum family, it seems, have a knack for changing fortunes in Tipperary.
Some 31 years ago, Tipp defeated Cork to be crowned Munster champions and captain Richie Stakelum declared “the famine is over”, prompting a resurgence in the fortunes of the team.
Now staff in a company owned by two of Richie’s brothers, Pat and John, have scooped a €17.4m jackpot in the Euro-Millions draw.
A syndicate of 32 employees at Stakelums Home and Hardware in Thurles will get €547,000 each after their numbers were drawn on Tuesday night.
While the town has been celebrating the win, it was bittersweet for the syndicate as it coincided with the death of one member’s father.
“It’s going to be muted celebrations as much as anything else,” Joe Connolly (40), general manager of the shop and syndicate member, told the Irish Independent.
“We had a conversation among ourselves and it was agreed that as a mark of respect for our colleague that we wouldn’t be jumping up and down.”
The death occurred on the same night the numbers were drawn.
Next week, the group will get together in Dublin at the National Lottery HQ and take some time to enjoy their winnings.
The jackpot is being seen as a major boost for the community.
Throughout the day, customers at the shop left cards and congratulated staff members.
“They’ve been so good,” Mr Connolly explained. “Shaking hands, congratulating us, cards, everything.”
While they have been told €17m is the minimum jackpot of the Euro-Millions, the group is not complaining.
“It’s life-changing to an extent for some. It depends on your situation in life.
“It will positively impact on 32 families.
“You want everybody to get it, enjoy it and to manage it properly,” Mr Connolly said.
Excitement
He described the emotion of learning he had won as a mix of shock and excitement.
The financial manager of the company administers the syndicate and he knew they had won almost immediately.
“It was quick enough to be fair, him being an accountant, he loves numbers,” Mr Connolly said.
“If the call had come from anybody else, I would have said ‘this is a wind-up’.”
Two members of the group are on holiday in Spain and will fly back to sign for the winnings.
The syndicate has been operating for 25 years, though not all the 70 staff are members. Mr Connolly said they wanted to be conscious of those colleagues who had not won. But there was no hint of jealousy from his colleague William Bowe.
“We are all very excited here. We found out this morning and everybody is so happy,” he said.
“It’s a great amount for
each of them to win and it’ s great that a group of workers have won it together,” he said.
Showing how wellestablished and high-profile the Stakelums are in the community, Pat and John’s brother Conor is a selector for Tipperary while his nephew, also named Conor, is a top-level figure-skater.
The winning ticket was sold at Eason in Thurles
Shopping Centre. Senior staff member Tadhg Delaney said the shop has a lucky history.
“Back in October, we sold a winning ticket for the Irish jackpot, which was €7.5m. So now, we have an Irish and a Euro jackpot.
“There area lot more people coming in to buy tickets here today. Obviously, the fame is good for business,” he said.
It’s life-changing to an extent for some. It depends on your situation. It will positively affect 32 families