A SYNDICATE OF lucky customers in a Co Galway shop are celebrating after winning half a million euro between them in the EuroMillions Plus draw.

The syndicate is run by Mary Moloney, owner of the Post Office and Costcutter shop in Tynagh. The members won the top prize of €500,000 in the EuroMillions Plus draw last Friday, 12 September.

Mary explained how the syndicate works:

I set a piece of paper on the shop counter each week and anyone that wants to be in draw adds their name to the sheet and gives me the money.

When collecting her winnings, Mary was joined for a glass of champagne by shop customers Pauline McKeon and Rita Heade.

“When I’m in the shop getting my messages, I always throw some money into the draw. I’m glad I didn’t miss last Friday’s,” said Pauline.

“There’s been great excitement in the village. The parish priest even announced it at Mass on Sunday!” said Mary Moloney.

Moloney has been running the syndicate for many years and said she puts the sheet out onto the counter when the EuroMillions and Lotto jackpots get high.

“All together there are 19 shares of the winnings, so each customer gets over €26,000,” she said.

It was my brother’s birthday last week and I felt bad about forgetting to send him a card, so I included him in the draw along with my other brother and my sister-in-law. My relatives will share one of the shares, and that’s better than a birthday card for my brother.

There was no winner of last night’s EuroMillions jackpot so this Friday’s jackpot is an estimated €85 million.