Medical secretary scoops €10,000 as she's named Best Dressed at Galway Races

Irish Daily Mirror

4 days ago

A medical secretary at Galway University Hospital has scooped a whopping €10,000 and been named as this year's best-dressed lady at the Galway Races.
Megan Cunniss from Galway wowed judges, including Mandy Maher and Lisa McGowan, with her monochrome dress and elegant hat.
The 28-year-old won over the judges with her style, confidence, and individuality, whose look embodied the brand sponsors Ella & Jo ethos - bold, original, and completely her own.
She told us: "I love vintage fashion, 1950s fashion. I love looking up Dior archives. I try to copy some of their looks and change it around and make it some of my own. Guest Judge Lisa McGowan, Judge Niamh Ryan, co-founder of Ella & Jo, Megan Cunniss, from Co Galway, who was crowned winner of the Ella & Jo Best Dressed Lady Competition on Ladies Day, and Head Judge Mandy Maher at the Galway Races Summer Festival
"That was my inspiration. I designed the dress myself. I had it made in France, it was tailored in Galway by my dress maker, Gina's Sewing Services. We added more buttons to it, more black lining down around the edges. She's amazing."
The mum-of-one is on a roll this summer, having also won Best Dressed in Dundalk a few weeks ago.
"It was a different outfit," she said.
Megan said that she hasn't any idea how she will spend her huge prize money.
"It's a lot of money. It's life-changing to most people. I'm absolutely thrilled with the title. I love fashion. This is my style.
"All my family came down and my glam team came down the night before to get me ready for the photos."
More than 25,000 racegoers descended on Ballybrit for one of the most glamorous dates in the Irish social calendar on Thursday - and a landmark debut for Ella & Jo as new sponsors of the Ladies Day Best Dressed Competition.
This year marked the beginning of a three-year partnership between the Galway Races and multi-award-winning Irish skincare brand Ella & Jo, a powerhouse in Irish beauty, known for championing real skin, real women, and real confidence.
Designed by two women who understand the realities of modern life, Ella & Jo's high-performance, joy-filled skincare has become synonymous with self-expression and empowerment, making them the perfect partner for a day that celebrates women owning their style.
'I'm so proud to be part of an event that continues to shine a light on Irish style in such a vibrant and inclusive way,' said Mandy Maher.
'The creativity we saw today was off the charts.'
Niamh Ryan added: 'Being part of the judging panel this year was incredibly special.
"You could see how much joy, personality, and individuality went into every look — exactly what Ella & Jo is all about.
"We were drawn to something real, something confident. The moment our winner stepped out, we all felt it.'
Lisa McGowan, founder of Lisa & Co and Lisa's Lust List, recalled fond memories of ladies day after she was crowned Best Dressed herself in 2016.
'Ladies Day holds such a special place in my heart,' said Lisa.
'The standard this year was phenomenal, not just in terms of fashion, but in the presence behind the outfits. Our winner had that rare magic.
"She didn't just wear the look, she owned it.'
The prize for Best Hat went to Bride Butler from Thurles Co Tipperary, who won €3,000 for a standout piece by Michelle Kearns. Winner of the Best Hat Competition at Ladies Day was was Breda Butler from Tipperary and Winner of the Best Dressed Lady was Megan Cunniss from Galway at Ladies Day of the Galway Races Summer Festival sponsored by Ella & Jo
The judges applauded the design for its originality, craftsmanship, and sheer presence.
Thousands of ladies turned out for the fourth day of the races.
Louise Murphy from Tramore in Waterford was almost left shoeless after her Manolo Blahnik heels got stuck in a rain drain at the Ballybrit racecourse. Louisa Murphy from Tramore, who got her Manolo Blahnik shoe caught in a grate and needed a workman to help her eventually work it free (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Elsewhere on the track, there was drama in the parade ring after last year's runner-up Ndaawi was called the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle after first-past-the-post Helvic Dream was demoted by the stewards.
It is 20 years since trainer Noel Meade saddled his most recent winner of the Ballybrit highlight in More Rainbows but he had come close on several occasions since, while Ndaawi's trainer Gordon Elliott had never won it previously.
Helvic Dream, a Group One winner on the Flat for Meade in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup, was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled down to fight it out with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Jack Kennedy in the home straight.
However, the pair did come close together all the way up the run-in as both horses and jockeys gave their all, with Ndaawi short of room against the far rail, and while Helvic Dream passed the post a head in front the stewards felt the interference was significant enough to reverse the placings.
Trainer Gordan Elliott said: "We have won most of the big handicaps so this is the race I wanted to win, although it is not a nice way to win.
"Noel is one of my greatest friends and there isn't a day goes by that we don't talk and we have great banter, but that's the way it goes unfortunately.
"The stewards have their jobs to do, Jack said it straightaway after the race and I was talking to Ruby (Walsh) as well and he felt we would definitely get it. It is unbelievable to win the two big races here this week and the horses have all run well, I can't believe it."
Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BOYLE Sports, said: 'It was a dramatic renewal of the Galway Hurdle and Helvic Dream losing it in the steward's room wasn't the best turn of events for us. We paid out on the revised winner Ndaawi and the first past the post, both of which were well fancied in the betting.'
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