A Co Mayo hospital porter, Mr Colm Lally, is a member of a syndicate of 22 at Belmullet District Hospital that scooped a one-third share of the €3.45 million euro Lotto jackpot on Saturday.
"It was a nice win," said Mr Lally, the only male member of the syndicate. Like his 21 colleagues, he will receive €52,000. "I have just built a house so the money will come in handy for furnishing it." The 22 winners are nurses, care assistants and clerical staff who formed what was described as an "impromptu syndicate" around lunchtime on Saturday.
Ms Mary Ellen Leneghan, who works in administration at the hospital, collected €1 from each of 21 colleagues before adding her own and heading to Belmullet Post Office to buy a Quickpick on Saturday. She said there were regular fixed syndicates amongst staff at the hospital but they always did an extra Quickpick or two whenever there was a large rollover.
A list of contributors is kept in case of dispute later, she said.
Ms Margaret Bilbow, a syndicate member and mother of five, said: "I am still recovering from the shock of it all."