Galway Races: Ladies first as hats, heels and dresses take over

When Scamall Dubh – black cloud – rocked up in the first race at Ballybrit on Ladies' Day it put the hex on the fourth instalment of this year's Galway Races.

But it wasn’t all bad, and the sun occasionally burst through the clouds, although the hats, heels and dresses blew in the wind and some clung on for dear life.

However, the difficult conditions were not a deterrent for the judges of the best dressed lady and best hat competitions who had plenty of potential nominees to sift through from 11.30am.

Insurance broker Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, was thrilled to take home the best dressed prize. She wore a white and grey asymmetrical, one-shouldered dress and matching hat.

Shocked

She wept when she heard her name being announced. She has won a prize worth €10,000.

“I’m shocked. I never expected to win,” she said. “I’m blown away by the amazing style. Ladies really pull out all the stops for Galway,” she said.

Ciara Murphy, a garda from Dunboyne, Co Meath, was similarly ecstatic to hear that her gold and red hat was chosen as the best of the day. The 30-year-old said a milliner contacted her to see if she wanted to wear it.“She made it with me in mind because she thought I was going anyway,” she said.

“I think Galway is on another level. It is amazing. We were well looked after today. The umbrellas were going around,” Ms Murphy said.

One of the judges, Melanie Morris of Image magazine, said they were looking for "a unique look that is not too contrived, that is very much in keeping with their style so they don't look uncomfortable in the clothes".

Also keeping an eye on the fashion stakes was Kitty Browne who will turn 90 in November but revelled in yet another race day, along with her son Mark from Boolavogue in Co Wexford. She has been at the races ever since she could walk.

She enjoyed the atmosphere, along with the hundreds of ladies who clambered outside the G Hotel tent to see the lucky 20 nominees in the fashion stakes.

Satchels

It was a bad day for the bookies as the Willie Mullins-trained Clondaw Warrior won the big one, the Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap, with Ruby Walsh on board for his first success in this race.

Hayley O'Connor from Ladbrokes described the bookmakers' pain after the 9-2 favourite fought back at the finish.

“Clondaw Warrior, who seems to hit us between the eyes at all the big festivals, costing us a fortune at Royal Ascot a couple of years ago and Galway last year, has delivered another crowd pleaser for the punters.

“We’re leaving Ballybrit with the lightest satchels we’ve had all week,” she said.