BEST-DRESSED PRIZE FOR WOMAN WITH 1,400 HATS
CHARLENE Byers shares her house with 1,400 hats, but she still had to go out and get a new one for Ladies Day at Galway.
Her move paid off handsomely and yesterday the mum-of-two won the coveted ‘g Hotel Best Dressed Lady’ prize.
Ms Byers has a hat-hire business and teaches piano in Newry, Co Down.
She looked very elegant and totally serene at the rain-swept course wearing a pink, off the shoulder Umit Kutluk crepe dress – which she bought for €400 at Kildare Village.
Her Laura Hanlon sinamay saucer hat with flowers and feathers was another wise investment, and before leaving the winner’s enclosure she was presented with her €6,000 diamond and pearl pendant from Phyllis O’Meara, of Cobwebs, one of Galway’s best-known jewellery shops. As part of her prize, she will be off on a trip to Paris with her husband, she wins €2,000 cash and a luxurious stay at the g Hotel.
“Sister Elizabeth and Mother Attracta are on looking for photos,” Ms Byers laughed with her husband, Paul, as they stood in the parade ring surrounded by a phalanx of photographers.
Ms Byers said she is giving piano lessons to Sr Elizabeth at the Poor Clares in Newry and had to cancel her class last Tuesday to prep for the races.
Ms Bye rs has form, as they say, and has won at provincial race meetings, twice at Downpatrick, at Cork and more recently in Naas.
The couple have two children, Adam and April, and cheering Ms Bye rs on yesterday washer mum Marie.
Meanwhile, primary teacher Moira O’Toole, from Co Kilkenny, won the Best Hat title with a snazzy take on the modern boater which she made herself with red and pink straw she imported from Australia. She hails originally from Glenbeigh, in Co Kerry, and recently did a course with an Australian hat designer at the Lina Stein millinery school in Westport where she learned the hat techniques. The boater worn over her short hair was very smart and set off perfectly by a peplum trouser suit she bought at Phoenix V last Christmas.
This year there were more trouser suits and jumpsuits in evidence, and Ms O’Toole was quickly identified as a contender.
The three judges handed out a total of 25 finalists badges and they were reduced to 10, and ultimately down to two victors.
Ms O’Toole’s prize included a €1,000 voucher for Kilkenny Shop and a deluxe stay at the g Hotel.
After a washout on Wednesday, the rain threatened to be an issue but in the end, the ladies of Ballybrit did what they do best.
They rose to the occasion, standing out under umbrellas to meet the judges that included Chanelle, Lady McCoy, Mandy Maher of Catwalk Models and yours truly.