The decision by eight members of the extended Fitzgerald family to throw in €1.50 each for a Lotto quick-pick was taken over a pint in the Achill Head the night before Wednesday's draw that netted them €5.3 million.
They didn't even allow for the Lotto Plus. It was to be all or nothing on the big chance. They shared communal ownership of the eight tickets
The lucky Fitzgeralds, whose family home is in The Valley (from the Irish, Tón an tSean Bhaile), on the Dugort side of the island, celebrated in a time-honoured fashion yesterday morning - they went for a swim in the cool waters of Keel Bay.
It was the best way, they knew, to decide once and for all that the big Lotto win was no dream.
Eighteen-year-old Paul Fitzgerald from The Valley and his cousins and uncles on holiday from Limerick and Dublin, entered the waters of Keel with trepidation, to emerge 20 minutes later born-again millionaires.
At least that's how it felt - they will each get €660,000, not bad for a shared quick-pick sans Lotto Plus.
The ticket was bought in O'Malley's supermarket, which also houses the post office, in Keel, Co Mayo, on Monday.
Meanwhile, the National Lottery announced yesterday that the price per Lotto panel was increasing from 95 cent to €1, with a minimum play of two panels for €2, from Sunday, September 1st, 2002.
The last increase was from 50p to 75p four years ago.
The price became 95 cent with the introduction of the euro.