![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f777-614.jpg\"\/)
\nMegan Cunniss celebrating winning Best Dressed Lady with her husband Ian Burke<\/p>\n
It is day four of the Galway Races where the highlights are the Galway Hurdle and Ladies Day.<\/p>\n
It is one of the busiest and most popular days at Ballybrit with intense competition both on and off the track.<\/p>\n
On Ladies Day, it is all about turning heads and making fashion statements.<\/p>\n
The winner of the Best Dressed Lady this year was 28 year old Megan Cunniss from Bohermore, Co Galway.<\/p>\n
\nMegan Cunniss celebrating winning Best Dressed Lady with her husband Ian Burke<\/p>\n
The Best Hat was won by Breda Butler from Thurles in Tipperary.<\/p>\n
Ms Cunniss wore a vintage black and white 1950’s era dress which was made in France and tailored in Galway.<\/p>\n
She is a medical secretary in University Hospital Galway and is married with one daughter.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Egan and Eva Hayes-Morrissey, from Cork and have been coming to the Galway Races for over 25 years.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth sums up the appeal in one sentence: “It’s the people, the style ands the craic”.<\/p>\n
Eva agrees, saying: “It’s a family tradition and we just wouldn’t miss it. It’s the atmosphere, the top class racing and of course the fashion.<\/p>\n
![\"Breda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f778-614.jpg\"\/)
\nBreda Butler from Thurles won Best Hat at the festival<\/p>\n
“It’s also the nights out, the hangovers, the getting ready! It’s all part and parcel of the buzz of Galway.<\/p>\n
“There’s no other track like it in Ireland and I go racing a lot”<\/p>\n
Eva agrees, saying: “It’s a family tradition and we just wouldn’t miss it. It’s the atmosphere, the top class racing and of course the fashion.<\/p>\n
“It’s also the nights out, the hangovers, the getting ready! It’s all part and parcel of the buzz of Galway.<\/p>\n
“There’s no other track like it in Ireland and I go racing a lot”.<\/p>\n
Faith Amond and Catherine Byrne, from Carlow, are regular racegoers and attend the festival every day.<\/p>\n
“We love everything about it, the racing and the social side and of course the fashion. We’ve been coming for decades and it’s an annual pilgrimage not to be missed”.<\/p>\n
![\"Eva](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f754-614.jpg\"\/)
\nLauren Tinkler said that ‘she loves green’<\/p>\n
Lauren Tinkler pulled a high street fashion dress together with a designer hat in varying shades of green.<\/p>\n
“Yeah I love green and just felt it was a nod to our traditional Irish colour.”<\/p>\n
She threw back her head and laughed at the notion that she might wear it again on St Patrick’s Day.<\/p>\n
“Why not! But I might be a bit overdressed for the pub!”<\/p>\n
This year’s guest judge is Lisa McGowan. She won the best dressed title in 2016 and went on to build her own fashion and cosmetics brands.<\/p>\n
“Oh it’s amazing to be here as a judge nine years on. I was so shocked when my name was called out in 2016. Today is a full circle moment for me. Galway kickstarted my career,” she said.<\/p>\n
![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f75c-614.jpg\"\/)
\nLisa McGowan won in 2016 and is a guest judge this year<\/p>\n
The Tullamore woman summed up what makes a winning outfit in her eyes.<\/p>\n
“Style and elegance are key, but often it’s the “something extra” that catches the eye of the judges.<\/p>\n
“I think the minute you walk into a group of ladies the winner is going to stand out. There’s no particular look but she’s going to carry herself beautifully. She will be immaculately dressed.<\/p>\n
“We usually know a winner straight away,” she said, and whispered: “I had the winner picked within five minutes of getting here!”<\/p>\n
Ballybrit is a dazzling extravaganza of frock and feathers, frills and fascinators.<\/p>\n
But as well as high end fashion, many people, like Ruby O’Reilly Duff, from Milford in Co Donegal, had rummaged through oddments at home to create a unique, recycled look.<\/p>\n
“I made this hat myself and it cost me nothing! I used old rosettes I won as a child and recycled some old netting to create this look. I love the Galway Races and am marking this day with my own special look”<\/p>\n
![\"Ruby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f760-614.jpg\"\/)
\nRuby O’Reilly Murphy created a unique look<\/p>\n
The Galway Races are one of the biggest sporting and social events in the west of Ireland.<\/p>\n
An estimated 130,000 people are expected to attend this week – on a par with the festival last year.<\/p>\n
Chief Executive of Galway Racecourse Michael Maloney said the races are worth over \u20ac60 million to the local economy.<\/p>\n
“This festival generates a lot of income for hotels and guesthouses, taxi drivers, hairdressers, boutiques and so forth.<\/p>\n
“Here in Ballybrit there are up to 1,600 staff employed across a wide range of areas with a huge number of young people working in hospitality this week.”<\/p>\n
There are 800 horses in 53 races with prize money in excess of \u20ac2m.<\/p>\n
![\"Louisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0022f761-614.jpg\"\/)
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