VIDEO: Staff syndicate at St Hilda's in Athlone scoops Lotto win!
They say all good things come to those who wait. And patience paid off for the staff of a special school in Athlone who won a handsome €52,401 on the Lotto after a 30 year wait!
The St Hilda’s Special School Syndicate of 29 current and former staff was thrilled with its Lotto Match 5 Plus Bonus win when they called to National Lottery Headquarters this week to collect their cheque.
School Principal, Pia Farrell, said the syndicate with nine staff was first set up three decades ago when the National Lottery started and when the school was much smaller.
“Like the school the syndicate has grown over the years and includes teachers, special needs assistants and support staff. We may be the oldest Lotto syndicate in Ireland!”
St Hilda’s caters for pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities aged between 4 and 18 years.
“It is a very special school and we are currently going through a new build and are fund raising. Our pupils are very special to us all we are privileged to be working here” said Pia.
The staff are planning to fundraise for a sensory garden, something which Pia said would be very beneficial to their 42 pupils.
The syndicate includes ex-principal Anne Gately, who retired last year, and one of the few male staff members of the school Nigel Farrell, a special needs assistant.
The happy group travelled by bus to National Lottery headquarters from Athlone after school hours on Wednesday - and said the pupils were very excited to hear of their teachers good fortune.
News of the win registered with the syndicate secretary, Geraldine West, on Monday when she checked the syndicate quick pick numbers. She informed the school principal and the duo revealed the good news to the rest of the syndicate on Tuesday.
“The school was closed Tuesday due to Storm Ophelia but the staff were asked to come in and we surprised them with cake and champagne” said Geraldine.
Each syndicate member will get a little over €1,800 each and most of the syndicate plan to use the winnings to get a start on Christmas shopping.
Here's a video taken as the syndicate collected the prize this week: