Feathers fly on Lady’s Day

A LIVELY mix of foliage and plumage won out in the style stakes at Ballybrit yesterday, as thousands of perfectly groomed females lit up the grandstand and parade ring on Lady’s Day at the Galway Races.

Happily for those wishing to be considered for the Best Dressed competition, the rain held off for most of the day, giving fashion-conscious race-goers the opportunity to venture out of the various pavilions and strut their stuff in the flimsiest of dresses and most delicately balanced of hats.

Sporting a black satin dress, red shawl and an interesting red and black headpiece in the shape of a leaf, Galway boutique owner Niamh O’Donovan walked away with the best dressed prize of a voucher worth 3,000 for Anthony Ryan’s clothing store in Galway.

“The entire outfit would be worth around 400, but I got it from my own store so I’m thrilled,” smiled 28-year-old Niamh from Gort, who runs Maddison Boutique in Galway.

Anthony Ryan, who has just taken over sponsorship of the Best Dressed competition at Ballybrit this year, also offered a prize of 1,500 of vouchers for the Best Hat on Lady’s Day.

Feathers were the order of the day when it came to shortlisting candidates for this competition, and 20-year-old Meath woman Louise Allen eventually rose head and shoulders over the rest for her black and white feathered headpiece.

The hat, she said, was purchased to match the striped dress which she wore yesterday.

“I had it commissioned by milliner Carol Smith, and the entire outfit would have cost me around 500,” explained a visibly thrilled Allen.

RTÉ star Mary Kennedy, who led the Best Dressed judging panel at Ballybrit, admitted to being overawed by the sheer elegance and style on Lady’s Day at this year’s festival.

“I’d rather not have to judge a competition like this, there’s an awful lot of ingenuity and colour,” smiled the stunning Open House presenter.

“It’s so difficult to decide.”

Mary herself was elegantly turned out in a powder blue chiffon skirt suit.

Apart from Eurovision singer Mickey Harte, who graced race-goers with his presence in the parade ring at lunchtime, well-known figures were thin on the ground yesterday.

Not even Bertie managed to make it along to the biggest day of race week.