Latest news with #BollingerBestDressedCompetition
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Belfast woman named Best Dressed at Punchestown Festival 2025
The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition returned to Punchestown Festival this afternoon, with an emphasis on sustainable fashion through this year's theme: 'Something Old/Something New'. Fighting off fierce competition, it was Ciara Denvir from Belfast who took the top spot, with her consciously curated ensemble winning them a trip to the Bollinger Estate in France's stunning Champagne region along with a five-star Paris hotel stay, Michelin dining experience, flights and more. Denvir dazzled onlookers and judges alike with her carefully curated monochrome ensemble, which she said was entirely "shopped from her own wardrobe". The Belfast woman wore a cream and black hat designed by Awon Golding Millinery London, which she teamed a cream and black polka dot blouse by Coosy Studio (a Spanish brand), a black skirt by Romanian brand ATU Body Couture and a belt she's had for over 20 years. Her stunning Dior earrings are several years old and added some delicate sparkle, while her statement green Prada shoes were bought last year in the sales. Finally, her bag is by Irish designer August Night and ring from Boodles. That ring, it turns out, was her key to her winning ensemble today in more ways than one. The piece was a gift from her husband Peter Boyle to mark their 25th wedding anniversary. Its purchase led to an invitation from the brand to join them for at the festival. Speaking on her win, Denvir said: "I feel absolutely overwhelmed and completely excited, I couldn't believe it. I've never been to the races before and never entered a best dressed. I am looking forward to a wonderful and beautiful prize." Head Judge Jess Colivet was joined by guest judges Aoife McNamara, founder of Ireland's first B Corp fashion brand Aoife Ireland, and Isabel Gleeson, personal shopper and image consultant, in assessing this year's most stylish attendees. Also on the look out were Style Council Members Roxanne Parker, Lawson Mpame, David O'Connor, Kate Nally McCormack, alongside Style MC Marietta Doran. Over the past three days, a number of finalists were singled out thanks to their sustainable style, with the competition running over the first four days of the festival. You can see all of the finalists here. Today saw an all-time record-breaking attendance of 42,138 at Punchestown, a whopping increase of over 5,500 on Ladies Day last year. Speaking on the winning look, judge Colivet said: "We were looking for a curated look from head to toe and I just felt this woman was elegance personified. Her outfit was a beautiful monochrome classic look with a twist, and then the bravery of wearing that green shoe. She wore her look with confidence, elegance and style, a great winner for Bollinger." As if her winning outfit wasn't proof enough that Denvir has style, as it happens the Belfast local is also a former winner of RTÉ's Home of the Year. Having purchased and lovingly restored their Belfast home they entered and won the competition in 2019. Since then, the former barrister Ciara has hung up her wig and is now in business with the husband as a full-time interior creator.
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Meet the finalists of the Punchestown 'Best Dressed' competition
The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition returns to Punchestown Festival today, with an emphasis on sustainable fashion through this year's theme of 'Something Old/Something New'. Guest judges Aoife McNamara, founder of Ireland's first B Corp fashion brand Aoife Ireland, and Isabel Gleeson, personal shopper and image consultant, will join Head Judge Jess Colivet in assessing this year's most stylish attendees. Additionally, returning for 2025 are Style Council Members Roxanne Parker, Lawson Mpame, David O'Connor, Kate Nally McCormack as well as Style MC Marietta Doran. The competition invites racegoers to showcase their 'consciously curated' ensembles for a chance to win a trip to the Bollinger Estate in France's stunning Champagne region with a five-star Paris hotel, Michelin dining experience, flights and more. The competition ran over the first four days of the popular festival, with daily finalists chosen in the run-up to the hotly anticipated Ladies Day on Friday, 2 May. Head Judge Jess Colivet insisted that she would also be approaching race day style in a sustainable way: "I myself will be reinventing a look based on a piece that I have worn at four Punchestown festivals!" Jess continued: "Fashion is evolving, people are borrowing pieces from friends, the rental market has exploded, and both online and in-store pre-loved fashion is the norm among younger generations. Identifying ethical brands and investing in a beautifully made coat, dress or piece that will stand the test of time is always a sustainable fashion choice. "Think timeless quality. Each year, the best-dressed at Punchestown produces a wonderful story with a hat, bag, dress or even jewellery that has been passed down from generation to generation. That's sustainable fashion at its best". Day 1 finalists: Raymond Gilbourne Lisa Walsh Genevieve Ryan Tristan Conway-Behan and Louise Corrigan Breda Butler Bollinger Best Dressed Daily Winner: Genevieve Ryan Roscommon woman Genevieve Ryan enjoyed a superb first visit to the Punchestown Festival when she was chosen as the daily winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition. Having embraced the theme of the competition by shopping her own wardrobe, Genevieve wowed the judges and attendees with her impeccable style and the story of how she curated her unique twist on the classic monochrome look. Head judge Jess Colivet commented: "Within 10 mins of arriving in the gate, she was clearly the one to beat!" The shirt was purchased from MacBees in Killarney three years ago and recently underwent a revamp when Genevieve swapped the old buttons for new ones. Her polka dot skirt was a recent purchase from Coosy, her Jimmy Choo shoes were a Depop bargain, and her handmade hat was perfected by her 3-year-old daughter's favourite teddy's bow. Her rings came from Irish brand Chupi, earrings from Faizie Maizie, and her cloud bag by Aoife Mullane was another Depop find. Day 2 finalists: Raymond and Gillian Gilburn Onesia Owens Faith Amond Davinia Knight Steve Bennett Bollinger Best Dressed Daily Winner: Oniesa Owens Longford mum Oniesa Owens was crowned Bollinger Best Dressed of the day. She wore a Roisin Linanne black trousers from a suit she bought a few years ago, teamed with a Rotate jacket from Longford Boutique Fabiani. Her hat was by Wendy Louise, and her bag and shoes were Chanel and Malone Soulier, respectively. Oniesa, a finalist in last year's competition, commented: "Having been a finalist last year, the pressure was on to see if I could go one better and actually win, I'm over the moon!" Style MC Marietta Doran commented that the winner embodied the "timeless taste and style synonymous with Bollinger and Punchestown". The Bollinger Best Dressed Daily Winners will be fast tracked to the Grand Finale when the overall 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed Winner will be announced.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Punchestown Racing bosses share how much drink will be consumed this week
Almost 20,000 punters are set to quaff thousands of glasses of champagne and pints and enjoy a lavish dinner at the Punchestown Racing Festival this year, racing bosses have revealed. The Kildare racecourse will open its turnstiles to more than 100,000 horse racing fans when the jump season kicks off on Tuesday until Saturday, May 3. Racing organisers have revealed that 17,000 hospitality guests from 806 companies - including 164 from the UK - will enjoy seasonal menus crafted by a 68-strong team of chefs, supported by over 760 hospitality staff. Three and a half tonnes of fresh vegetables, 60 kilos of artisan cheeses, and 15,000 exquisite canapés and desserts will be served across the five days. A team of almost 300 bar staff will pour an estimated 132,000 pints, measure 20,000 shorts and fill 8,000 champagne glasses. Punchestown CEO Conor O'Neill said: "There is something really special about the buzz ahead of this year's Punchestown Festival. It's even more than the brilliant achievements by our horses, jockeys, owners and trainers throughout the season. 'It's the local and national enthusiasm and pride that are reflected not only in bookings and sales but in requests for information, signage, inquiries about how they get involved. 'People Make Punchestown and there is a great appetite and goodwill for the event this year even more than previous. Combine this with a forecast that we can only wish for and we are in for a magic week,' he added. Style lovers will once again flock to the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition, open to all, taking place over the first four days and culminating in the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday May 2. Fresh for 2025 is the sustainable theme of Something Old/Something New focusing on conscious fashion choices. New to the Style Council judges are multi-award winning sustainable designer Aoife McNamara and acclaimed stylist Isabel Gleeson. Further additions include the Bollinger Concierge marquee where Kildare-based beauty brand Ayu will have a host of professional make-up artists offering make-up top-up and professional advice. Vision Ireland will have specially curated rails of pre-loved designer garments to showcase just how stylish sustainable fashion can be. Organisers are anticipating over 100,000 visitors across five spectacular days, with festival fans traveling from across Ireland, the UK, Italy, United States and even Australia to be part of this world-class celebration of sport and culture at the home of Irish jump racing. Across 40 races, featuring 12 Grade 1 contests and €3.5 million in prize money, the Punchestown Festival once again delivers the very best in jump racing. All indications are that major showdowns are guaranteed with old rivals, young pretenders and redemption missions on the cards. The opening day features a massive clash between Cheltenham heroes Marine Nationale and J.P. McManus's Fact To File. The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup will see superstar Galopin Des Champs take on a challenge from the impressive Spillane's Tower whilst Friday's Boodles Champion Hurdle is being billed as the race of the season with Constitution Hill confirmed to meet State Man and Golden Ace amongst others. Headlining the action is an incredible line-up of training and riding talent including the unstoppable Irish and recently crowned British champion trainer Willie Mullins along with his son, Grand National winning rider Patrick Mullins, champion jockey elect Paul Townend, top trainers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead, Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Gavin Cromwell and the ever popular Rachael Blackmore among those in action. What is particularly evident at the entry stage is the significant increase in UK trained runners at the festival with numbers returning to the heights last seen in 2008. Festival friends and regulars Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O'Neill, Harry Derham and Anthony Honeyball are joined by new names and faces to sustain the visitor involvement for the future. The UK contribution is integral to the festival as it not only generates vastly increased interest and TV viewer numbers from across the Irish sea but also each horse running brings with them owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and associated entourages that require accommodation, hospitality and entertainment in the locality. Over 20% of the festival attendance hail from outside of Ireland so the event is a major contributor to the Kildare tourism numbers and campaign. The track team have prepared, mowed, aerated, fed and watered over 170 acres of racing ground or the equivalent of around 42 Croke Park pitches. The main team of five men have crafted 330 metres of hand filled steeplechase fence, 180 sections of handmade hurdles and erected just under 10 kilometres of white racing rail all to provide what is essentially a fresh racetrack each of the five days
