Waking Ned Devine

In the quaint Irish village of Tullymore, someone has won a life-changing sum in the National Lottery. The entire community becomes engulfed in the mystery of who the winner might be, as everyone knows each other intimately.

Clever local resident Jackie O'Shea takes it upon himself to investigate the identity of the mysterious lottery winner. He employs his keen analytical skills, hosting a fancy chicken dinner to gather potential winners and observe their behavior.

After much deduction, Jackie concludes that the elderly retiree Ned Devine is the likely lottery victor. He and his friend Michael O'Sullivan visit Ned’s home, only to discover him deceased, clutching his winning ticket, which had likely caused his sudden death.

Devastated by Ned's death but realizing the potential of the winning ticket, Jackie hatches a plan to cash it. He experiences a dream in which Ned encourages him to distribute the wealth among the villagers, spurring the next part of his scheme.

Jackie's plan unfolds as he convinces Michael to impersonate the deceased Ned Devine when a representative from the Lottery commission arrives for verification. The entire village rallies to support this unlikely ruse, each contributing ideas and resources.

The Lotto representative arrives in Tullymore, and Michael confidently pretends to be Ned Devine. In a series of humorous exchanges, the villagers work together to convince the representative of his legitimacy as a winner, showcasing their camaraderie.

With the successful deception made, the entire village bursts into celebrations, relishing in the hope of newfound wealth. Planning begins in earnest for how to share the spoils among the townsfolk, bringing everyone closer together.

The old village 'witch', Lizzie Quinn, becomes suspicious of the lottery windfall and threatens to expose their deceit for a reward. Her presence casts a shadow of fear over the villagers as they devise ways to keep their secret safe.

Lizzie tries to report the villagers to the authorities using the only working phone in the area. As she makes her way to the phone booth in her motorized wheelchair, she faces a series of unfortunate hurdles, adding tension to the scenario.

In a twist of fate, as Lizzie attempts to betray the villagers, her wheelchair runs out of battery. Before she can make the call, she is struck by the Parish Priest's van, falling to her demise and effectively silencing her threat.

With the threat of exposure eliminated, the villagers celebrate as they prepare to distribute Ned's winnings. The entire town is transformed, and dreams of prosperity and better lives become a reality for the once-impoverished community.

As the ordeal concludes, all loose ends are resolved, and the villagers bask in their unexpected fortune. Bonds are strengthened within the community as they plan their future together, forever changed by Ned Devine's lottery win.