There was joy and celebrations in east Cork today as the 64-person Seomra 22 lotto syndicate from St Colman's Community College collected their €500,000 in winnings.
The syndicate, which is made up of teaching, administration and caretaking staff at the Midleton school, have been doing the lottery for the past seven years.
But to the fore in everyone's mind today was their late colleague Meave Barry who died unexpectedly last November.
Syndicate manager and school secretary Rebecca Walsh said they had decided not to play the lotto before Christmas, feeling it was too soon after Meave's death, but resumed last month on what would have been the chemistry teacher's turn to buy the ticket.
"We feel she's looking down on us and is here with us for sure," Ms Walsh said.
In her honour, the syndicate renamed themselves 'Seomra 22' - the number of the room where the late Meave Barry taught.
They claimed their EuroMillions Plus prize of €500,000 today at a celebratory event in Cork, having won the draw on Tuesday 17 January.
The winning quick-pick ticket was sold in Tim McCarthy News on Main Street in Midleton, Co Cork.
"Sharing this money between us has been ten times more special and way more fun than if one of us won it on our own," Ms Walsh said.
"The buzz around the town has been phenomenal. I've had people coming up, stopping me in the street to congratulate me and the locals are genuinely happy for us, which makes the win even more enjoyable.
"It's given our town and community a real positive boost and lift, which was really needed," she said.
