PHOTO CREDIT: Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO. Headpieces : Michelle Kearns Designs
Kayleigh Trappe seeks Creative Style at Athlone Towncentre Friday’s Most Stylish this Galway Race Week!
Athlone Towncentre enters its thirteenth year leading the Friday’s Most Stylish competition at the internationally renowned Galway Races. This year the prizes are better than ever with Celebrity Judge Kayleigh Trappe & Head Judge Marietta Doran seeking stand out style with sustainability in mind from attendees on the day. Taking place on Friday, 1st August from 4pm, Friday’s Most Stylish sponsored by Athlone Towncentre is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings of race going fashion lovers to date on the fifth day of the festival.
Kayleigh Trappe, Comedian & Presenter and Marietta Doran, Fashion Stylist & Racing Style Presenter will seek out the best style efforts at Galway Racecourse on the day with a focus as always on women who bring their own creative personal style to accessible high street pieces. This year it is hoped entrants will restyle clothing or accessories they already have in their wardrobes. Both judges will be joined by General Manager of Athlone Towncentre Shirley Delahunt who, along with Marietta, has formed part of the judging panel for the last thirteen years. The chosen judges have a keen eye for style due to their involvement with international fashion styling, race meetings and fashion retailing throughout their careers.
This year sees the biggest Prize Fund on offer to date for the competition winner with a Shop & Stay Break courtesy of Athlone Towncentre. The lucky winner will leave Galway Racecourse with a €2500 Athlone Towncentre Gift Card, a luxury two night break in the four star Sheraton Athlone Hotel in a Deluxe Tower Room with dinner & spa treatments and a €500 voucher for Fields The Jewellers, who are one of the many retailers located in Athlone Towncentre.
Speaking at her announcement as Celebrity Judge Kayleigh says “The Galway races is always a great day out! I am delighted to be judging Athlone Towncentre ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’. I’ll be bringing my sharpest eye, my fastest wit, and possibly my slowest horse. For me, the best style isn’t about the price tag but the craic, the creativity, and maybe a bit of clever wardrobe recycling. Old dress, new hat, big smile. Bob’s your uncle. May the hats be high and the heels be sturdy! I’ll see you in August!”
Friday’s Most Stylish Judge Athlone Towncentre General Manager Shirley Delahunt says “we are delighted to once again be involved in highlighting the incredible style the Galway Races are known for. This is our thirteenth year sponsoring ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’ and we have seen the competition explode in popularity. The last three years have shown the largest numbers of the festival attend on Friday with many of the racegoers dressed in the hope of winning the outstanding prize we bring to the competition. We have always championed ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’ as being accessible to all and we try to encourage the building blocks of an outfit being from the high street blended with pieces from boutiques, Irish designers or pieces which people may already have in their own wardrobes.
We anticipate the event and the fashion showcased by racegoers on the day will be at an all time high. The Friday evening of Race Week has undoubtedly found its place on the calendars of stylish race goers across the country. We have seen a real evolution of style at the races over the last number of years which perfectly complements the high street stores and boutiques we house in Athlone Towncentre. This competition and its previous winners have demonstrated that racing style is now more about reflecting ones’ individual personality and style creativity as opposed to spending an exorbitant amount of money on clothing one cannot wear more than a handful of times. We’re looking forward to seeing how racegoers blend high street and high end fashion at Galway Racecourse.”
With over 20 years’ experience working in both the Irish Racing Fashion Industry & Television Presenting Head Judge Marietta Doran says “I am greatly looking forward to judging ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’ with Athlone Towncentre at the Galway Races because it is always my favourite evening at the races throughout the festival. It is a joyous and wonderful event. A beautiful start to the weekend – everyone is in great form and all dressed up! The style and the fashion is always gorgeous and it is very different to the style seen on Ladies Day.
I also am especially looking forward to working with our gorgeous Celebrity Judge this year Kayleigh Trappe. Kayleigh is a really funny person and I have been a huge admirer and fan of her what she does so it’s great to work with her and of course it is always a pleasure to work with Shirley Delahunt and the team at Athlone Towncentre. The style event is going 13 years now – the style and fashion just get better and better with each year. It really is the pinnacle of the festival. There is always lots of colour and the style is very chic and classy with a fun vibe. The prizes are phenomenal. The winner gets to take away a shopping trip in Athlone Towncentre including a voucher from Fields the Jewellers and it is always lovely to have Sheraton Hotel Athlone for the hotel getaway. It is a truly luxurious prize.”
As always highlights of the event can be viewed on the Athlone Towncentre social media channels. Style watchers who cannot attend the event can view racegoers, the five finalists and winner on the same day as the event unfolds.
Talking about Friday’s Festival meet, Michael Moloney, Chief Executive at Galway Racecourse says “as preparations intensify for the much loved and iconic Galway Races Summer Festival, this year we’ve planned our best race week yet! Friday has always been one of the highlights of the week, a day that’s hugely popular with our racegoers as we head into a Bank Holiday weekend. Our sponsorship with Athlone Towncentre is in its thirteenth year, a partnership that has gone from strength to strength. We look forward to working with Kayleigh Trappe, Marietta Doran, Shirley Delahunt and team on a very special Athlone Towncentre ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’ event.”
Athlone Towncentre is home to major fashion brands including Zara, River Island and H&M as well as boutique businesses. It is an ideal shopping destination with top brands and numerous food offerings under one roof catering to all tastes.
