Child"s play for lucky Lotto syndicate

Champagne flowed for nine colleagues from an Athboy childcare facility this week when they won a total of €25,000 in the National Lottery. A nine-member syndicate from Mellowes Childcare in Athboy had a match five plus bonus number win in Saturday night"s lottery draw. Two members of the group, Sandra Brady and Steven Carthy, collected their winnings at National Lottery Headquarters yesterday (Tuesday). 'We"ve won a few euro before but nothing like this,' said a delighted Steven. 'We only found out yesterday. I checked the numbers in my local newsagents and I couldn"t believe we had a winner. I called the girls to tell them we"d won but they thought I was messing,' said Sandra. The group have been playing Lotto together since August 2008. Each member will receive over €2,700 and there are lots of plans in store for the windfall. Stephen and his wife plan to use their winnings to expand the business. 'One of the girls is getting married and this will help with her wedding plans and some of the other girls are planning holidays,' he said. The group, which will continue playing Lotto, bought the lucky €18 ticket in Smyth"s Newsagents, Main Street, Athboy.