Rain can’t dampen style at Killarney Ladies’ Day

THE National Ploughing Championships for the wellies: Killarney Races for the brollies.

That about summed up the atmosphere on Ladies’ Day which brought the July holiday meeting at the lakeside track to a close yesterday.

Torrential rain failed to keep away a large crowd of fashionable womenfolk who turned out in all their finery to make for the biggest attendance of the four-day meeting.

Local woman Marilyn Murphy, owner of the Killarney Hat Studio, was a popular winner of the Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion competition.

She looked a picture in a multi-coloured orange, brown and lime green silk dress, matched by an orange umbrella, with a hat from her own studio, of course.

“I’m really thrilled. I never expected this as there was a huge amount of style around,” said a beaming Marilyn whose prizes included a trip for two to New York.

There were 25 finalists, with second place going to Mamie Hayes, of Ballyneety, Co Limerick, and third to Carol Kennelly, Tralee.

Judges were celebrity couple Keith and Lisa Duffy and well-known Limerick model agency owner Celia Holman Lee.

Ms Holman Lee, who has been judging in Killarney for many years, said they were greatly impressed with the style.

“It was fabulous to look around at a sea of feathered hats and all the colour. Just fantastic. The women were determined to come to Killarney looking their best, whatever about the rain. Standards here are going up all the time,” she remarked.

Other observers noted a move back to the classic black and white look of the 50s, while 200 ladies who attracted the judges’ attention were treated to a champagne reception.

Also at the races were TV personalities Gráinne Seoige, twice a Queen of Fashion judge, Daithí O Sé and Kerry football manager Pat O’Shea.

Killarney Race Company chairman John Buckley reported attendances to be up each day.

“Given the sort of summer we’ve being having, we were also lucky with the weather. The meeting was a great success,” he said.

And, for once, nature looked after the track which did not requiring any watering in preparation for the meeting.