Fashion flair at Fairyhouse
Lorna Doogue, from Kilkenny, took part in the Most Stylish Lady competition on Irish Grand National day at Fairyhouse.
THE Ratoath racecourse was awash with colour as well as rainwater, as punters donned their finest wears for the Most Stylish Lady competition.
Despite the plunging temperatures and frequent downpours, Ireland’s racing fans came out in force for yesterday’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
It was a special day for trainer Gordon Elliott, who won his first ever Grand National with General Principle, ridden by 25-year-old jockey JJ Slevin.
“To win the Irish National is unbelievable. I can’t believe it, I’m delighted. It’s a great day,” the trainer said.
“It was unbelievable, there’s a lot of pressure coming to these meetings, you go over to Cheltenham and you hear people going on about how good the Irish horses are and how good Willie Mullins is, and Willie is some man, we all have to get up to his level.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was among the guests enjoying a day out at the Co Meath racecourse.
He arrived with fellow Fine Gael politician and Minister of State Helen McEntee and received a round of applause when he made his way into the festival tent, before stopping to pose for photos with punters.
“It’s nice to be here and, notwithstanding the weather, it’s been a great day of racing,” he said.
Meanwhile, most stylish on the day was Michelle Fallon, from Newbridge, Co Kildare, who walked away with a stay at the luxurious Carton House hotel and a three-day trip to Boston. The mum-of-two wore a hat of her own design, a vintage dress and a fur stole from Penneys, describing her outfit as “early 1900s equestrian”.
“This is my third or fourth race to attend and I just got lucky today so I’m delighted. I’m a stay-at-home mum and I just started my own milliner business about a year ago. I’ve been doing it bit by bit,” she said.
“The hat was the inspiration for the whole outfit. Once you have the hat, everything comes afterwards.” Sky Sports presenter Olivia Wayne (33) served as judge and was impressed by the style on display.
“I’m really impressed with the standard, I didn’t realise the effort people would put in,” she said. The day was also a special one for Emma McNeill (30), Co Down, and Declan Toner (26), from Co Armagh, as they celebrated their recent engagement. Mr Toner got down on one knee the day before and surprised his bride-to-be with a trip to the races.
“He asked me up Slieve Donard. I had absolutely no idea. I didn’t know anything about it,” said Ms McNeill.
“When he asked me to marry him, he told me he had another surprise and brought me to the races. He had my dress and hat sorted for me, I didn’t even pick this outfit.”
Her fiancé said: “We met Easter Sunday three years ago. We come to the races regularly enough and we always wanted to come to the Grand National.”
Also out enjoying the day were identical twin sisters Davinia and Dawn Knight (33), from Co Offaly, who attend every race meet wearing matching outfits.
“We are very inspired by vintage glamour and we try to modernise it, it’s granny chic. We go to all the races and we always twin as well.
“We do turn a few heads, I suppose both good and bad. It’s a bit of fun, we can share the same
experience. We always create our own fashion for it,” they said.
Kildare man Mick Konstantin (25), who penned the song ‘There’s Only One Conor McGregor’ ahead of his bout last year with Floyd Mayweather, was also in attendance.
Fairyhouse organisers approached him in recent weeks to produce another original number which he called ‘Up And Over They Go’. “I’ve had two or three songs for specific events. I had an interest in it anyway and it’s fun to write about,” he said.
“A lot of people have been asking me to write songs. I have my first proper gig coming up next month in (Dublin venue) Whelan’s.”
A total of 10,722 people attended the second day of the festival.