The winner of the Rosé and Runway Best Dressed competition at The Curragh racecourse on Sunday was Éilis Dempsey, who perfectly embraced the theme 'A Hint of Blush' in a chic blush pink ensemble.
Éilis, from Corofin in Galway, works in administration but has a background in fashion, with a fashion degree and recently launching her own clothing rental company
Despite being a regular at the races, she admitted she usually goes to watch the horses rather than take part in the fashion side of things - and was her win was so unexpected that she almost missed the announcement.
Speaking to EVOKE, Éilis said: 'I'm shook, to be honest. My legs are here shaking. I can barely stand.'
In fact, she admitted that she had nearly left the tent before the judges announced top 10 names for the Whispering Angel Rosé & Runway style competition at day two of the Irish Champions Festival.
Éilis said: 'I turned and said to my mum, "Let's go up to the Owners and Trainers Bar" and we were just leaving the tent and we said we'd pop back in just to see them announce the top 10. So thank God we never went!
She said she was not expecting to win the competition, 'never in a million years. It's amazing, it's brilliant... this might get me to dress up a bit more now.'
Éilis' winning look comprised of classy style choices, with a touch of sustainable fasion, wearing a dress from Self-Portrait that she bought from Vinted and a hat from Millinery by Mairéad, that was dyed by her friend to match her dress.
She said: 'My hat was Millinery by Mairéad but my friend, who's also a milliner Suzie [Mahoney] dyed it to match my dress. And then my dress is Self-Portrait, but I actually got it on Vinted. My shoes were Valentino. And my bag was Parfois and was borrowed from my mum.
The fashion graduate has newly launched a clothing rental company that can be found on Instagram, @labelleirl, specialising in racewear and occasionwear. She said: 'I've also just launched a rental company, a dress race wear and occasion wear, rental company so this just tops it off, to be honest. A good way to launch, I suppose!'
Horses and horse racing are a huge part of her life as she was brought up around horses and used to ride herself, and recently completed a course in horse racing. She said: 'I'm big into my horses and have been since a young age, so I'm an avid racegoer but usually when I'm racing, I'm looking at the horses and I'm not dressed up to the nines.
'So to get dressed up today was a good excuse to get done up but to win... It's just topped it off. I'm shook. I really am to be honest... it's just madness to win in the best.'
She was selected as the winner by style judges Naomi Clarke, aka The Style Fairy, TV personality and stylist Marietta Doran and guests of The Curragh Greg O’Shea and Jeanni Mulder, and couldn’t believe it when her name was called.
'I was so shocked because I really wasn't expecting it,' she said. 'I wasn't expecting top 10, let alone top three. And then when they called out the winner, because all the ladies looked so beautiful, I was just stunned. My legs are still shaking, so I think I need to go and take a drink out this Whispering Angel [rosé].'
Her prize, compliments of Whispering Angel, is a luxurious two-night bed and breakfast stay in a golf-side bedroom at The Europe Hotel and Resort in Co Kerry, including a decadent evening meal for two, two indulgent spa treatments at the world-class ESPA, and of course, a bottle of Whispering Angel to share.
Now, her only dilemma will be who to bring with her to the Europe Hotel! 'I'm really looking forward to it. I'm always looking up to Europe but they're always fully booked... I'm not too sure [who I'll take with me] to be honest, there's so many people who are asking already!'
