Second time lucky for new mum who was named Best Dressed at Punchestown Festival

Irish Daily Mirror

01-05-2025

It was second time lucky for new mother Oniesa Owens, who was named Best Dressed at the Punchestown Racing Festival.
Punters flocking to the Kildare racecourse enjoyed "the hottest day in decades" according to racing bosses.
At the Bollinger tent, mum-of-one Oniesa Owens from Longford, who works as an area manager for a tyre company, recently completed a course in fashion buying.
She was spotted by judges, including Jess Colivet, Kate Nally McCormack, David O'Connor and guest stylist Ali Gleeson, who adored her preloved fashion.
Speaking afterwards, Oniesa said she was a finalist on the Wednesday at last year's races, but didn't win.
But luck was on her side on Wednesday as she was crowned a finalist this Friday where she is in with a chance of winning a luxurious trip for two to the champagne region in France.
She said: "The outfit is preloved by Roisin Linnane... We're here with the Longford GAA and the jacket is from a boutique called Fabiani by Rotate.
"Punchestown is always cold so that's why I said I'd wear sleeves.
"Winning this is amazing and adds a string to my bow.
"I was a finalist on the Wednesday last year but I didn't win that day.
"I'll possibly wear this. I did see a green skirt in the Enable Ireland shop but with the weather like this I might change my outfit (for Friday)."
Oniesa is here with her husband Johnathan and the couple welcomed a baby girl, Esme, a year ago.
"I love fashion. I love dressing up, love the style. It goes back generations.
"It's the hardest job you'll ever do (being a mother). I'd love her to love the style like I do."
As many as 23,285 flocked to the second day of the Kildare racecourse - up 1,633.
We even spotted a bridal party enjoying a hen do. Leanne Knight from Cheltenham was enjoying two days in Ireland with her bridal squad ahead of her wedding in August.
Leanne said it was much better value at Punchestown than Cheltenham.
"We love the Irish. We were out in Temple Bar last night and we're heading there again tonight. We love Ireland."
A HRI spokesperson for Punchestown Racing Festival said: "It's the hottest day in decades and there's a total party atmosphere. It's going to be a great week."
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon was among those in attendance as well as Ireland AM star Elaine Crowley, who was a guest of Ladbrokes in the exclusive Morrell Suite.
Elaine said: "I had the winner in the first race at 14/1. I love the races now."
RTE star Marty Morrissey was also in attendance with the Longford GAA team.
He added: "I had a great day at the races. The weather makes it. The Marty Party will be in full swing tonight."
Among those enjoying the racing festivities was also former Irish international soccer legend and Ladbrokes brand ambassador, Shane Long.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "The Punchestown Racing Festival is always a must-attend event in the Irish racing calendar, with fantastic energy all-round.
"The Ladbrokes Gold Cup is no doubt the showstopper to top off an exhilarating day at the racecourse."
Elsewhere, Minister Heydon recalled working at the races in his early years and how important the festival is to the local economy.
"I worked here as a young fella in 2004. I worked down at the race-track, it was my full time job, I was also a part time farmer.
"So many people who come here are passionate about their national hunt racing.
"It's the end of a very important season and a chance for re-matches after Cheltenham and Leopardstown and Fairyhouse.
"But if the ground isn't right and the people who do all the hard work on the course don't get that right, then this doesn't work on this side.
"So great work and attention and care has gone on out there.
"From 2000 to 2004, I worked on the track here. We used to have to water it in times of great heat like this.
"You also had to manage the ground when it's wetter as well.
"But it's the indirect economic spin-off for County Kildare that comes from Punchestown, it's valued at tens of millions of euros.
"Whether it's local boutiques or menswear shops, everybody gets ready for Punchestown.
"We all grew up getting a half day from school for it, here in the Kildare area, this is who we are and it's a huge part of it.
"Never mind your bars and restaurants that are going to benefit from tonight in Naas, Ballymore Eustace and all around.
"This year we have seen 27pc of the visitors here are going to be from England – that's foreign, direct investment that's coming into the country that's so important from a tourism perspective.
"So there is so much to this and is a direct reason that we as an Irish Gov invest money into this industry, an industry that's worth almost €2.5bn to our entire economy and employs almost 30,000 people."
Minister Heydon added punters weren't used to putting on sunscreen for the day.
"We're not used to normally having to put on suncream for Punchestown, it can be a cold spot at times.
"But Kildare people have been planning to come here for a very long time, before they knew what the weather would be like.
"But this is an added bit. And you can see by the attendance figures, some people at the last minute decided, 'we're going to do this.'
"And that will be the case particularly coming into the Bank Holiday weekend on Friday and Saturday.
"But Punchestown has the space to provide that really good visitor experience, whether it's the hard-core punter or someone who's here for a bit of fun."
Extra precaution was taken yesterday for the horses in the hot weather as the IHRB responsible for welfare stood by with extra buckets of water to help them recover.
Punters heading to the racecourse on Thursday are advised to bring a brolly as rain is forecast amid the sunny spells.
Met Eireann said it will feel "cool with highs of 12 to 17 degrees in northerly breezes".
"Elsewhere across Leinster and Munster it will be mostly sunny to begin. Cloud will build further for the afternoon, with some scattered showers breaking out, which will possibly be heavy and thundery, especially across southern counties.
"Highs here of 18 to 23 or 24 degrees in light northerly winds," added the forecaster.