Shocked ciara off to new york
Kilbeggan Races: Mullingar girl wins best dressed prize worth €5,000
The winner of the €5,000 ‘best dressed’ prize at Kilbeggan Races on Saturday says she will take her husband on the trip to New York – if “he plays his cards right!”.
Ciara Grehan, who is from Shannonbridge, County Offaly, and lives in Marlinstown, Mullingar, was speaking after she had come down from the high of winning, and said her husband, Gerry, was as delighted as she was.
A primary school teacher in Kilmessan, Ciara said the dress and shoes she wore were items she had bought in Covent Garden, London for a friend’s wedding two years ago.
“I got the headpiece from Derek Montgomery on Mount Street, who made it to match the dress,” said Ciara.
“That was my first time at Kilbeggan races – my first time dressing up for the races – and I was really shocked to win it.
“The prize is unbelievable. I’m really looking forward to the trip to New York, though I’m not sure when we will go.
“My husband is delighted, so he’ll be coming... as long he plays his cards right!”
Ciara, who says her favourite styles are “vintage and Hollywood glamour”, expressed her thanks to everyone involved in the day at Kilbeggan Racecourse on Saturday.
Derek Montgomery of Montgomery Designs was also celebrating on Saturday night. This is the second year in a row he has designed a winning headpiece for Kilbeggan Races Ladies Day, and it follows a string of top 10 places for his headpieces for at race meets across the country.
Paddy Dunican, manager of Kilbeggan Racecourse, said: “Ladies evening at Kilbeggan Races is an exciting event with top-class glamour and style alongside great horse racing.
“Our best dressed ladies bring class, style and confidence to the event year after year, and the competition is always a colourful, vibrant and elegant affair. We were delighted to have such renowned sponsors this year and such a fantastic prize on offer.”
Paddy was pleased with the day “despite inclement weather” and reported that the crowds were up 25% on last year.
“The style and glamour that turned up! It was the biggest ever best dressed competition, we had somewhere around 400 ladies, and we selected 200 for the marquee. The standard was higher than ever.”
More photos here.