Emily is Queen of Fashion at first attempt

IT was first time lucky for glamorous secondary school teacher Emily O’Keeffe, winner of the Queen of Fashion competition at Killarney Races, yesterday.

Her striking pink and fuchsia hat, with feather plume trim, caught the eye in the enclosure, in which pink was the dominant colour on Ladies’ Day.

“I’ve always nearly won things and this is a welcome change,” said an elated Emily, who lives at Lissivigeen, Killarney, with her husband, John, also a secondary teacher, and children, Laura, aged eight, and Jonathan, two and a half years.

It was Emily’s first visit to the races and she promised she’ll be back.

Her outfit was originally purchased for a wedding and it came from three Killarney shops, chiefly Style Room.

Emily, who teaches religion and Irish at Mount Hawk Secondary School, Tralee, won a trip for two to Paris as her prize.

Grainne Seoige, of Sky News Ireland, judged the competition, with Limerick model agency owner, Celia Holman Lee.

“I’ve judged style all over the country and I always get frightened coming to Killarney Races because it’s so difficult to pick the finalists here,” said Grainne. “We really thought long and hard today and we hope everyone will be delighted with the winner.”

In second place was Avril O’Connell, Park Road, Killarney, in a Zara Chanel outfit, and third was Faith Almond, Carlow, who turned out in lime green.

Competition organiser Orla Diffily said the women were not put off by rain in the morning and made an enormous effort to dress.

“Feather head pieces were popular and many wore slip dresses rather than suits,” she said.

Race company chairman Jim Fleming, meanwhile, reported a successful, four-day meeting.

“We’re absolutely delighted. Crowds on Wednesday alone were up by 1,000 and musical entertainment proved popular each evening.”