Aoife Rynne, the 25 year old winner of the Castlegar GAA club's 'Win a Home in Salthill Galway' fundraising draw at the weekend said that she still can't believe her luck.
Rynne, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Science in Bioscience in University of Limerick as well as working part time for network provider, Circet, says that her win had relieved her of a lifelong responsibility and has given her a step up in life.
"I definitely always knew that I wanted to own something, but I thought that it would be a lifelong thing, especially given how everything is going on in the housing market now, and how expensive it is and how there's nothing to buy. The likelihood was getting further and further away and now, I have my own apartment. I still can't believe it."
While the buzz of her win is still coursing through her, Rynne says it is hard to concentrate on college and coursework at the moment, with her mind still racing about her new home.
"I don't feel like doing anything today," she said with a laugh.
Currently living in her family home in Co Clare with her mother, father and two brothers, Rynne says that she will relish in the peace and quiet of her new one bedroom apartment and exploring the location.
"The area is everything that I love, the beach across the road and the cinema around the corner are perfect for me. I only walked around the corner from the apartment but there are so many good pubs and restaurants nearby."
Coincidentally, Rynne had planned to go move to Galway this summer after her course finished, drawn by potential employers like Boston Scientific and Medtronic in the city and now, instead of having to spend months looking for expensive accommodation, she has her very own home.
"I just feel so lucky, I can't believe my ticket was picked and I will always be so grateful to everyone who ran the fundraiser."
Some 14,000 tickets were purchased for the draw with hopeful homeowners across all 32 counties, Asia, Australia, Europe and 45 states in America shelling out €100 for a ticket. As a result of the draw Castlegar GAA Club raised over €1.4 million from the raffle, making it of the most successful fundraising draws to ever take place on this island.
All proceeds from the draw are going towards the newly built state-of-the-art Arás at Castlegar GAA. The Club are also making donations from the draw to Galway Hospice, the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and to two local churches.
Chairman of the 'Win a Home Salthill' committee and Castlegar GAA Club, John Connolly said the response had been incredible.
“I just want to thank everybody who supported us and bought tickets since we launched our campaign last October. The response locally, nationally and overseas has just been incredible."
“I’d also like to thank our club members and all the local businesses who helped us along the - Rynne says that she will relish in the peace and quiet of her new one bedroom apartment away, but a special word of thanks to the team behind this draw in Majella King (Club Secretary ), Michelle Higgins (Club Vice-Treasurer ), Liam Dilleen (Club Vice-Chairperson ), Tony Neary (Castlegar GAA Club ) Aidan Brady (Club Rossie & Roscommon GAA ), Cormac Donoghue (Jel Marketing ) and Paul Byrnes Media."
