A glorious start to the Punchestown Festival!
Almost 18,000 attendees enjoyed a glorious start to the opening leg of the five-day festival at Punchestown Racecourse. The great and the good of National Hunt Racing from both sides of the Irish sea went head-to-head on the track, while social racegoers basked in the glorious sunshine and soaked up the electric atmosphere.
The feature race on the card, the William Hill Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) worth €300,000 did not disappoint with Marine Nationale, owned and trained by Barry Connell and ridden by Sean Flanagan, following up Cheltenham success at the Kildare venue. An emotional Barry Connell commenting “This is a great success for all the team and for Kildare. This is the horse of a lifetime. I am coming to Punchestown since I was his age with my father, (grandson Jack Connell) and this is a very special day for all my family, there will be cake later Jack!”
An exciting seven race card featuring no less than 3 grade ones, the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition and a whole new festival layout, ensured the opening day gave punters a great taste of what’s in store for the rest of the week at the County Kildare Venue.
Genevieve Ryan from Roscommon enjoyed a superb first visit to the Punchestown Festival when she was chosen as the daily winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition. Having really embraced the theme of the competition and shopped her own wardrobe first, 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! A perfect blend of sophistication and elegance, showcasing how a keen sense of fashion and attention to detail teamed with a sustainable ethos will always be a winner in the Bollinger style stakes at Punchestown!”
The shirt, a versatile piece purchased three years ago from MacBees in Killarney, recently underwent a facelift when Genevieve cleverly swapped the old buttons for new ones to refresh her look.
Her polka dot skirt was a recent purchase from Coosy worked so well with her Jimmy Choo shoes, a Depop bargain she nabbed online for €180. The real wow factor was her hat, a handmade with love at home piece finished with her 3 year old daughter’s favourite teddy’s bow. She accessorised perfectly with rings from Chupi, earrings from Faizie Maizie and her cloud bag by Aoife
Mullane was another Depop purchase.
The attendance was up on the opening day of the festival again this year with 17,842 in comparison to 16,361 in 2024 and 14,937 in 2023.
The first race tomorrow (Wednesday) goes to post at 2.30pm the feature being the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.30pm. For more information and updates on the Punchestown Festival visit www.punchestown.com.
ENDS.
The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition Returns for 2025 Punchestown Festival
Emphasis on sustainable fashion as Something Old/Something New Theme Announced
Introducing Guest Judges Aoife McNamara and Isabel Gleeson
An Exclusive Trip to the Bollinger Estate & Paris Awaits the Winner
The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed competition returns to the Punchestown Festival at the end of April with some fresh new faces and a forward-thinking theme: “Something Old/ Something New” in recognition of the iconic champagne house’s B Corp status.
Emphasising sustainable fashion focusing on style and sophistication, the competition invites racegoers to showcase their ‘consciously curated’ ensembles for a chance to win an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime trip to the iconic Bollinger Estate in France’s stunning Champagne region with 5* Paris hotel and Michelin dining experience, flights and more.
The competition will take place over the first four days of the 2025 Punchestown Festival with daily finalists chosen from Tuesday 29th April to the culmination on Ladies Day, Friday, 2nd May. The style action will unfold in the elegant Bollinger Garden Style Quarter, where race goers will be immersed in the glamour, refinement, and timeless prestige synonymous with both Bollinger and the Punchestown Festival.
New Style Council Members
In line with the theme of Something Old/Something New, the Bollinger Style Council welcomes back familiar faces alongside new guest judges Aoife McNamara (@aoifemcnamarax) and Isabel Gleeson (@styledbyisabel_). Trailblazer Aoife McNamara, founder of Ireland’s first B Corp fashion brand Aoife Ireland and a leading voice in ethical style shares her perspective: “I’m truly honoured to be part of the Bollinger Best Dressed competition at the Punchestown Festival. Having grown up attending this event, I am excited to see race fashion embraced in a sustainable way”.
Sustainable Race Day Fashion
Head Judge Jess Colivet (@jesscolivet) explains how to approach race day style in a sustainable way: “When it comes to the Bollinger Best Dressed, sustainable fashion means putting together your look in a conscious way. Rather than rushing out and buying a whole new outfit, I would always suggest that you start by ‘shopping your own wardrobe’ first. 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”.
Reflecting on the parallels between Bollinger’s commitment to sustainability and excellence and the upcoming best dressed competition, Michelle O’Sullivan of Findlater & Co. remarked: “Achieving B Corp certification (A globally respected benchmark that recognises businesses meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impac) is a proud milestone for Bollinger, aligning with their dedication to environmental responsibility, craftsmanship, and uncompromising quality. This has inspired the theme for the 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. We’re looking for creativity, showcasing reinvented pieces and a balance of timeless elegance — an aesthetic that echoes the exceptional quality and heritage of Bollinger.”
The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed competition remains a highlight of the Punchestown Festival taking place from Tuesday 29th April to Saturday 3rd May. Event tickets start from €35 with concessions for seniors, students and families (on Saturday 3rd May). For full event details please visit www.punchestown.com
Punchestown Announce ‘Something Old/Something New’ Bollinger Best Dressed Details
The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition Returns for 2025 Punchestown Festival
Emphasis on sustainable fashion as Something Old/Something New Theme Announced
Introducing Guest Judges Aoife McNamara and Isabel Gleeson
An Exclusive Trip to the Bollinger Estate & Paris Awaits the Winner
Media Release Wednesday 2nd April – The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed competition returns to the Punchestown Festival at the end of April with some fresh new faces and a forward-thinking theme: “Something Old/ Something New” in recognition of the iconic champagne house recently achieved B Corp status.
Emphasizing sustainable fashion focusing on style and sophistication, the competition invites racegoers to showcase their ‘consciously curated’ ensembles for a chance to win an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime trip to the iconic Bollinger Estate in France’s stunning Champagne region with 5* Paris hotel and Michelin dining experience, flights and more.
The competition will take place over the first four days of the 2025 Punchestown Festival with daily finalists chosen from Tuesday 29th April to the culmination on Ladies Day, Friday, 2nd May. The style action will unfold in the elegant Bollinger Garden Style Quarter, where race goers will be immersed in the glamour, refinement, and timeless prestige synonymous with both Bollinger and the Punchestown Festival.
New Style Council Members
In line with the theme of Something Old/Something New, the Bollinger Style Council welcomes back familiar faces alongside new guest judges Aoife McNamara (@aoifemcnamarax) and Isabel Gleeson (@styledbyisabel_). Trailblazer Aoife McNamara, founder of Ireland’s first B Corp fashion brand Aoife Ireland and a leading voice in ethical style shares her perspective: “I’m truly honoured to be part of the Bollinger Best Dressed competition at the Punchestown Festival. Having grown up attending this event, I am excited to see race fashion embraced in a sustainable way”.
Sustainable Race Day Fashion
Head Judge Jess Colivet (@jesscolivet) explains how to approach race day style in a sustainable way: “When it comes to the Bollinger Best Dressed, sustainable fashion means putting together your look in a conscious way. Rather than rushing out and buying a whole new outfit, I would always suggest that you start by ‘shopping your own wardrobe’ first. 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”.
Reflecting on the parallels between Bollinger’s commitment to sustainability and excellence and the upcoming best dressed competition, Michelle O’Sullivan of Findlater & Co. remarked: “Achieving B Corp certification is a proud milestone for Bollinger, aligning with their dedication to environmental responsibility, craftsmanship, and uncompromising quality. This has inspired the theme for the 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. We’re looking for creativity, showcasing reinvented pieces and a balance of timeless elegance — an aesthetic that echoes the exceptional quality and heritage of Bollinger.”
#Ptown25 #BollingerBestDressed #PunchestownFestival
Meet Your Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council
Lead Judge – Jess Colivet @jesscolivet
Personal stylist and content creator Jess Colivet, is based in Kildare, Ireland, and her Instagram feed is full of great fashion inspiration. After completing a postgraduate degree at Trinity and a trend forecasting course at the London College of Style, Jess started her Instagram journey in 2020 and has been charting her style ever since.
This is Jess’s 3rd year leading the Style Council at the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition at Punchestown Festival. Personal style should be an extension of your personality and the version of yourself that you want to share with the world. To me, there is nothing more stylish than someone wearing their clothes with confidence. Don’t let age define your style.
Jessica O’Mahony @jeskaomahony
Jessica is our newest addition to the Style Council for Bollinger Best Dressed 2024. As a busy mum of three, Jessica has amassed a following of over 95,000 Instagram (@jeskaomahony) followers thanks to her enviable sense of style from formal occasion wear to casual match day outfits and everything in between. Whilst more familiar pitch side than track side, as Jessica’s husband is Peter O’Mahony, captain of the victorious Six Nations Irish rugby team, the Cork woman is looking forward to embracing this new experience. Whilst I’m as comfortable in casual wear I do love an excuse to pull out all the stops and a big day out at the races with friends is just that, not to mention the amazing prize from Bollinger.”
Eve Gottesman & Michelle O’Sullivan @Champagne_Bollinger
Bollinger is a timeless classic. A world renowned brand built on heritage and craft. It is the taste and soul of Champagne. Much of Bollinger’s success today is traced back to ‘Lily’who married into the family and took over the reins in 1914. In a continuation of female influence at Bollinger, today Michelle and Eva will represent at the Punchestown Festival. They will be looking for essence of Bollinger in the winner – elegance and style.
Suzie O Neill @suzie.ayu
Kildare resident and award-winning entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill is the owner and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics and Koolfit Apparel. Suzie’s ethos has always been about engagement with the customer and using feedback to inspire and develop new products. This will be Suzie’s second year on The Style Council at Punchestown.
Suzie’s business journey started with a range of affordable, premium quality brushes back in 2015 and since then AYU has expanded to include a full suite of cosmetics with many new and innovative products in the pipeline. A champion of women in business Suzie has a team of over 35 talented women and men across her brands.
When not running her successful business this busy Mum is running marathons with Clane Athletics Club.
Roxanne Parker @roxanne_parker
Roxanne Parker began her journalism career 20 years ago and has been working as a fashion stylist for more than 20 years. Roxanne’s styling skills are highly sought after for magazine and print media editorials and designer brand look books as well as curating television broadcast wardrobes. Roxanne writes a monthly sustainability column “A Better Way” for Social & Personal magazine and has dressed celebrities in sustainable looks for the red carpet. Roxanne has launched a Sustainable Fashion Podcast My Soul Style.
Roxanne champions sustainable and slow fashion and supports designers and brands creating pieces with a planet conscious mission while encouraging people to dress as their authentic selves and not be a slave to trends. A Roxanne style top tip would be to source a great tailor and alterations service which can transform existing items or elevate great second hand finds.
Lawson Mpame @lawsofstyle
Lawson Mpame is a Creative Director and menswear stylist who has been working in the fashion industry for seven years. His passion for fashion and storytelling through visual mediums has led to collaborations and projects with some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. Styling their latest collections and creating high end content allows Lawson to showcase both his style and creativity. The three pillars of his brand are class, creativity and confidence. 2024 will be Lawson’s second year on The Style Council and his very first visit to the Punchestown Festival.
David O Connor @styledoc
Louis Copeland Group GM/Creative Director/ Made-To-Measure specialist.
Aptly named known as ‘The Style Doctor’ David has been working with the Louis Copeland group for over twenty years where he has styled some of the sharpest dressed, well known gentlemen including actors Patrick Dempsey and John C Reilly, celebrity chef Donal Skeahan, Tv Presenter and Olympian Greg O’Shea and globally renowned Mentalist Keith Barry.
This will be David’s Punchestown debut and as a passionate flag bearer of gentlemen’s style he will be looking for impeccable grooming, excellent tailoring fit and perhaps a different take on the traditional occasion suit.
Keen to champion gentlemen’s style and optimize the opportunity for the title to go the way of the men for the first time, David will be looking for perfect fit through great tailoring as well as attention to detail on presentation.
Media Release, Monday 8th April 2024: With just three weeks to go and 100,000 people expected to attend, Punchestown Racecourse today reminded festival goers of exciting plans and enhancements for the upcoming 2024 Punchestown Festival running from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May.
The five day social and sporting highlight is a homecoming celebration of Irish jump racing, sport and culture. With a prize fund of over €3.4 million, twelve top tier grade one contests, season champions like Galopin Des Champs and household names including Willie Mullins, Rachael Blackmore and Paul Townend in action. Beyond the parade ring and into the enclosures the Punchestown Festival is Ireland’s largest sporting corporate hospitality event and will host over 17,000 guests across an impressive array of restaurants, pavilions and suites. The competition on track will be hard fought whilst the style stakes in the prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed, live music, street theatre and Shopping Village appeals to the social element of the attendees.
The Four Key Changes for Punchestown Festival 2024:
1.Earlier Start Times
The first two days of the 2024 Punchestown Festival will revert to a 2.30pm start from the current time of 3.40pm. Market research shows that around 70% of paying clients would ‘definitely or most probably’ like to see some of the festival days start and finish earlier.
2.Ticket Products and Pricing
Whether it’s a business or a household value for money is particularly important now more than ever. Following a full review of ticket pricing and products there will be a price reduction to €30 for the first three days and €40 for Friday and Saturday of the 2024 Punchestown Festival for advance purchased tickets. There will be an additional €5 per ticket charge for on the day purchases excluding senior, student and family day concession tickets that can only be purchased on the day. As a premium sport and leisure event these prices compare very favourably to similar occasions.
As always group discounts apply and for larger groups it is recommended that they contact the racecourse office directly in advance. The original Flexi ticket will be replaced by the new Choice Ticket that can be used Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday. Senior, student and Family ticket concessions continue on a walk-up basis. All children under 14 years of age race for free all season.
3.Refreshed Festival Layout
The festival layout will undergo a refresh including the removal of the traditional reserved enclosure divide and the introduction of exciting new features around the parade ring enclosure. The famous Sky Bar, Bollinger Garden, Shopping and entertainment areas will remain as popular as ever with the Southern Enclosure accessible to all. The objective is to optimise the scope of the enclosures, utilise all available facilities which in turn will improve footfall, flow and reduce potential pressure points.
4. Enhance & Improve Raceday Experience
This point is neither new nor dynamic as the pursuit of excellent customer experience is an ongoing process. The enhancement of the race day visit will go hand-in-hand with the new layout. The Punchestown demographic is a diverse one with varied tastes and requirements for a memorable customer experience. Alongside our catering and service partners, we aim to deliver a selection of great quality food and beverage options with efficient, friendly service in comfortable surroundings. Whilst costs have increased across the board for product and services every effort has been made to minimise the impact on the customer.
Conor O’Neill Punchestown CEO explained the theory behind the strategy: “We say it time and time again that people make Punchestown, so it is those very people who have shaped and informed this plan and it is this plan that will help us deliver the best possible Punchestown experience we can to our customers who are the backbone of our business. Now we need support with feet on the ground and people through the gates. If it doesn’t work for the customer it ultimately won’t work for Punchestown, so I hope we’ve got the balance right as we look ahead to welcoming friends old and new to the 2024 upcoming Punchestown Festival.”
The 2024 Punchestown Festival will take place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. For full information please visit www.punchestown.com
*ENDS*
Editors Notes
Punchestown Festival 2024 Advance Ticket Prices
- Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday €30
- Friday and Saturday €40
- Student and Senior receive a €10 discount on the day with proof of ID
- *New product* The Choice Ticket – can be used on either Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday – €35
- Saturday Family Ticket for two adults and children €50
- Under 14 years of age race for free all year at Punchestown.
- Group of 10 people plus receive discounts.
- There will be no Flexi ticket available for the 2024 Festival.
- *Advance Tickets are those booked and paid for by 10pm the night before the race day.
Jessica O’Mahony Welcomed as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Assembles for Punchestown 2024
Media Release, Thursday 28th March 2024: As the countdown to the 2024 Punchestown Festival gets underway the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council is delighted to welcome Jessica O’Mahony as guest judge for the prestigious racing fashion competition.
As a busy mum of three, Jessica has amassed a following of over 95,000 Instagram (@jeskaomahony) followers thanks to her enviable sense of style from formal occasion wear to casual match day outfits and everything in between. Whilst more familiar pitch side than track side, as Jessica’s husband is Peter O’Mahony, captain of the victorious Six Nations Irish rugby team, the Cork woman is looking forward to embracing this new experience “This will be my first visit to the Punchestown Festival and certainly my first time being involved in a style competition like this. I’m excited to experience a different side of a major sporting event and take in all the fashion, colour and atmosphere that it brings. Whilst I’m as comfortable in casual wear I do love an excuse to pull out all the stops and a big day out at the races with friends is just that, not to mention the amazing prize from Bollinger.”
The 2024 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May with the iconic champagne house Bollinger celebrating eight years involvement at the social and sporting highlight. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition takes place over the first four days of the event. Judges and style scouts will be tasked with seeking out a number of finalists each day. The daily winner will then progress to the grand final on Ladies Day, Festival Friday, 3rd May.
The overall winner and guest will enjoy an appropriately stylish and exclusive ‘money cannot buy’ trip to the famous Champagne Bollinger Estate with luxury overnight stays in Paris and Reims to include Michelin dining and private transfers. Truly a trip of a lifetime and something worth dressing up for.
Jessica O’Mahony joins the established and diverse Style Council led by head judge, stylist and influencer Jess Colivet and ably assisted by returning names including beauty entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill of AYU, David O’Connor from Louis Copeland, stylist Lawson Mpame, sustainable fashion stylist Roxanne Parker, former winner Katie Nally-McCormack and MC Marietta Doran. Travelling especially from France to enjoy her first Punchestown Festival experience is Champagne Bollinger Brand Ambassador Eva Gottesman. The best place to keep up to date with Bollinger Best Dressed information is via the Punchestown Instagram page
This year’s Punchestown Festival will roll out new reduced ticket pricing, a refreshed layout with enhanced customer experience venues and earlier start times on the first two days. Whilst hospitality is now sold out from Tuesday to Friday there is limited availability on Saturday 4th May with waiting lists in operation throughout the week. For full event information and ticket options please visit: www.punchestown.com
**ENDS**
The 2023 Osprey Avenue Exhibitors:
Aoife Lifestyle – @aoifelifestyle
Irish award winning luxury sustainable fashion accessories brand
Marina Hamilton Art – @marinahamiltonpainterand
Donegal based painter and sculptor.
Vanessa Ree Jewellery – @vanessa_concept_jewellery
Contemporary and meaningful fine jewellery designed for you.
John Fitzgerald Art – @johnfitzgeraldart
Meath based leading sporting, equine and portrait artist and sculptor.
Marinot Millinery – @marinotmillinery
handmade bespoke hats designed in Connemara
Rathlin Knitwear – www.rathlinknitwear.ie
Hand-loomed signature line in Donegal tweed from progressive Gaeltacht company.
Tidings – @tidings.ie
Marrying Irish design with Italian silks.
Sophie Hunter @sophiehuntermillinery
Hats and headpieces as unique as you.
RedMills Store @redmillsonline
Lifestyle store with exclusive brands
Agent 74 www.agent74.ie
Optical equipment specialists with a great range of sports themed gifts & accessorie
Claire O’Connor @clareoconnor_studio https://www.clareoconnor.net/
Luxury brand of wearable art with silk and cashmere scarves.
Equieire @equieire
Equestrian sportswear using regenerated fabrics and innovative design
Olimar Gifts @olimargifts
Gifts and accessories
Sarah Lennon Art @sarahlennonart
Seeing it in colour.
Bermingham Cameras @bermingham_cameras
50 years supplying photographic equipment and excellent customer service.
Metal & Mallet @metalandmallet
Irish bespoke sustainable hand carved art and furniture.
Devils Edge @DevilsEdgeShirts
Tailoring beautiful made to measure luxury shirts.
HRI Owners @hriowners
Here to assist new and existing owners through the exciting journey of racehorse ownership.
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel www.louisfitzgeraldhotel.com
Designed for business and leisure guests.
www.PunchestownLive.ie
The One
Ladies fashion
Welcoming exhibitors old and new to Osprey Avenue Shopping
Brought to you by
The return of the much-loved Punchestown Festival is only a matter of days away and as always whilst the top-class racing takes centre stage organisers will provide a full programme of social events throughout the week with retail therapy featuring strongly!
The Osprey Avenue returns this year with some exciting new additions to the exhibitor line-up. Sponsored by the Osprey Hotel in Naas, the Osprey Avenue champions homegrown talent and hosts some leading names in Irish design, jewellery, millinery and art.
We strongly recommend allowing time for a stroll and browse along Osprey Avenue where acclaimed artists and sculptors exhibit their wonderful work. Long time regular Marina Hamilton returns with her wonderful and endearing studies of animals from her native rural Donegal base. John Fitzgerald’s works have caught the eye of many high-profile horse racing patrons and as always Sarah Lennon’s work is uplifting, vibrant and captivating.
With style and fashion delivering the colour and vibrancy of the festival, we are delighted to welcome back talented milliners Sophie Hunter and Isobel Marinot. Enhancing the lifestyle and design factor are newcomers Vanessa Ree Jewellery, Clare O’Connor luxury Irish design, aoife Lifestyle and award winning Tidings scarves.
Well-dressed gents in attendance will enjoy a visit to Devils Edge Shirts for made-to-measure tailoring while the ever popular Rathlin Knitwear, are famed as much for their warm welcome as for their hand loomed Donegal wool signature pieces. Horse industry favourites Redmills and award winning new comer Equieire cater for all things country and equestrian attire, whilst Agent 74 deliver the goods on sports accessories such as binoculars and more.
PunchestownLive.ie brought to you by Media Force will offer racegoers and interactive media experience by bringing the festival to a huge digital audience. Elsewhere fans of racing can enquire about upgrading their interest with a visit to the Horse Racing Ireland Owners stand where details on clubs, syndicates and how to get involved will be available.
If you’re looking for something unique for your home or as gift we recommend you stop by the Metal and Mallet stand to view their bespoke sustainable hand carved art and furniture. Olimar return with their selection of gift wear and accessories. Photography professionals and enthusiasts will already know Bermingham Cameras who have been supplying excellent photograpy equipment and customer service from their Dublin base for over 50 years.
So the message is clear. Factor in time and make your way to Osprey Avenue, enjoy a coffee, a chat and a browse through some wonderful Irish exhibitors stands where you could pick out something special to spend your winnings on!
The 2023 Osprey Avenue Exhibitors:
Aoife Lifestyle – @aoifelifestyle
Irish award winning luxury sustainable fashion accessories brand
Marina Hamilton Art – @marinahamiltonpainterand
Donegal based painter and sculptor.
Vanessa Ree Jewellery – @vanessa_concept_jewellery
Contemporary and meaningful fine jewellery designed for you.
John Fitzgerald Art – @johnfitzgeraldart
Meath based leading sporting, equine and portrait artist and sculptor.
Marinot Millinery – @marinotmillinery
handmade bespoke hats designed in Connemara
Rathlin Knitwear – www.rathlinknitwear.ie
Hand-loomed signature line in Donegal tweed from progressive Gaeltacht company.
Tidings – @tidings.ie
Marrying Irish design with Italian silks.
Sophie Hunter @sophiehuntermillinery
Hats and headpieces as unique as you.
RedMills Store @redmillsonline
Lifestyle store with exclusive brands
Agent 74 www.agent74.ie
Optical equipment specialists with a great range of sports themed gifts & accessorie
Claire O’Connor @clareoconnor_studio https://www.clareoconnor.net/
Luxury brand of wearable art with silk and cashmere scarves.
Equieire @equieire
Equestrian sportswear using regenerated fabrics and innovative design
Olimar Gifts @olimargifts
Gifts and accessories
Sarah Lennon Art @sarahlennonart
Seeing it in colour.
Bermingham Cameras @bermingham_cameras
50 years supplying photographic equipment and excellent customer service.
Metal & Mallet @metalandmallet
Irish bespoke sustainable hand carved art and furniture.
Devils Edge @DevilsEdgeShirts
Tailoring beautiful made to measure luxury shirts.
HRI Owners @hriowners
Here to assist new and existing owners through the exciting journey of racehorse ownership.
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel www.louisfitzgeraldhotel.com
Designed for business and leisure guests.
www.PunchestownLive.ie
The One
Ladies fashion
Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop.
New approach to race day fashion as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council and concept for the Punchestown Festival is unveiled.
The countdown is on and all bets are off ahead of the 2023 Bollinger Best Dressed competition at this year’s Punchestown Festival from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Following such positive reaction to a fresh outlook on race day style at last year’s event, organisers have further enhanced this aspect as the 2023 Style Council is revealed.
The concept is Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop. The challenge is set and the competition is open to ladies and gents who catch the eye of the Style Council members by dressing with confidence, elegance and creativity whilst considering sustainability and appropriateness of their outfit.
Tasked with the challenge of scouring the Punchestown crowds and identifying the best dressed race goer is a collective of ladies and gents who are highly regarded in their respective fields, have a passion for style and have excelled to establish successful careers in the fashion, style and beauty industries.
The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Lead Jess Colivet explains what makes this Punchestown’s competition different to other best dressed race day’s: “whilst style is timeless we are looking for something fresh and new. Last year we embraced the fact that Punchestown was probably the first real opportunity to find your style feet again and dress up following Covid. This year all bets are off and we are looking for a fresh approach to race day and occasion outfits. We invite entrants of all ages and genders to show us their true style with special emphasis on individuality, creative styling and a fresh outlook.
Colivet continued to explain the sustainable angle: “Being stylish is not about spending a fortune, the most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to fashion is to wear what you already have in your wardrobe. Real style is how to wear it and what you wear it with so get creative and borrow, swap, reimagine and alter your way to the Bollinger Best Dressed title”.
Allow us to introduce you to the nine Bollinger Style Council members who will attend on a combination of days to ensure a diverse and varied selection of finalists:
Jess Colivet @jesscolivet
Jess is The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Creative Lead and this will be her second year judging The Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. A London College of Style trained image and style consultant, Jess’s passion lies in assisting both women and men in discovering their own personal unique style. Jess is a neighbour of Punchestown racecourse and has enjoyed attending the annual Punchestown Festival for many years.
Jess’s work as a personal stylist involves a consultation service for clients who want to feel more comfortable, confident and happy in their general appearance. Jess believes that “feeling confident and happy impacts all aspects of life from personal through to business. This can come from something as simple as how you dress and present yourself to the world”. Jess believes that fashion is less about clothes and more about personal style.
Lawson Mpame @lawsofstyle
Lawson Mpame is a Creative Director and menswear stylist who has been working in the fashion industry for seven years. His passion for fashion and storytelling through visual mediums has led to collaborations and projects with some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. Styling their latest collections and creating high end content allows Lawson to showcase both his style and creativity. The three pillars of his brand are class, creativity and confidence. 2023 will be Lawson’s first year on The Style Council and his very first visit to the Punchestown Festival.
Suzie O Neill @suzie.ayu
Kildare resident and award-winning entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill is the owner and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics and Koolfit Apparel. Suzie’s ethos has always been about engagement with the customer and using feedback to inspire and develop new products. This will be Suzie’s second year on The Style Council at Punchestown.
Suzie’s business journey started with a range of affordable, premium quality brushes back in 2015 and since then AYU has expanded to include a full suite of cosmetics with many new and innovative products in the pipeline. A champion of women in business Suzie has a team of over twenty talented women across her brands.
When not running her successful business this busy Mum is running half marathons with Clane Athletics Club.
David O Connor @styledoc
Louis Copeland Group GM/Creative Director/ Made-To-Measure specialist.
Aptly named known as ‘The Style Doctor’ David has been working with the Louis Copeland group for over twenty years where he has styled some of the sharpest dressed, well known gentlemen including actors Patrick Dempsey and John C Reilly, celebrity chef Donal Skeahan, Tv Presenter and Olympian Greg O’Shea and globally renowned Mentalist Keith Barry.
This will be David’s Punchestown debut and as a passionate flag bearer of gentlemen’s style he will be looking for impeccable grooming, excellent tailoring fit and perhaps a different take on the traditional occasion suit. Keen to champion gentlemen’s style and optimize the opportunity for the title to go the way of the men for the first time, David will be looking for perfect fit through great tailoring as well as attention to detail on presentation.
Katie Du Jour @katiedujour
2019 Bollinger Best Dressed Winner and 2022 Style Council member Kate Nally McCormack is a mother of four from the Midlands who works with the HSE. Although a Punchestown Festival regular for many years, Kate made her best dressed debut in 2019 a winning one and having literally walked the walk knows what it takes to land the coveted title. The winning prize of a money cannot buy trip to France including an exclusive tour of Champagne Bollinger Estate, Michelin star dining and chauffeur transfers ranks as an experience of a lifetime for Kate. She believes that everyone should give it their best shot to be in with a chance to enjoy the same wonderful experience.
Kate possesses the knack of achieving a polished stylish look by combining high street with designer or vintage items.
Sinead Keary @sinead_keary_personal_shopping
Sinead Keary is a fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her self-titled fashion label in 2019. The first collection came to life after 12 years of working in luxury retail and with hundreds of personal shopping clients who repeatedly expressed the age old adage that they had a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear.
Sinead set about designing a collection of luxury essentials to help in forming the foundations of a capsule collection. Minimalism, femininity, fine fabrics and perfect fit are all essential components to the label collection that has been worn by Vogue Williams, Fearne Cotton and Rachel Stevens.
Sarah Battle @housebythewhitethorns
Sarah Battle is a modern day wonder woman. She lives in the West of Ireland with her husband and five kids. In 2019 Sarah began her blog to showcase her passion for home décor, style, baking and now uses her platform as an insight to daily family life along with style and décor advice. Sarah has collaborated with many high profile fashion and lifestyle brands and has amassed over 123,000 followers on Instagram.
Roxanne Parker @roxanne_parker
Roxanne Parker began her journalism career 20 years ago and has been working as a fashion stylist for more than 15 years. Roxanne’s styling skills are highly sought after for magazine and print media editorials and designer brand look books as well as curating television broadcast wardrobes. Roxanne holds a regular TV segment on Ireland AM and has dressed celebrities in sustainable looks for the red carpet. Roxanne has launched a Sustainable Fashion Podcast My Soul Style.
Roxanne champions sustainable and slow fashion and supports designers and brands creating pieces with a planet conscious mission while encouraging people to dress as their authentic selves and not be a slave to trends. A Roxanne style top tip would be to source a great tailor and alterations service which can transform existing items or elevate great second hand finds.
Michelle O’Sullivan, Champagne Bollinger International Representative
Perhaps the most qualified of all the style council members Michelle O’Sullivan, representing Bollinger International has observed the evolution of style and occasion dressing at Punchestown since Bollinger’s sponsorship began in 2016. Bollinger say life can be perfect and with years of experience in the industry Michelle knows exactly what encapsulates the iconic Bollinger brand, ethos and customer.
Punchestown’s Shona Dreaper explained the thinking behind the Style Council concept “ The style element of the festival is so important and the best dressed competition gets plenty of discussion and airtime throughout the week I can assure you! At Punchestown we embrace progress and fresh thinking. Our concept is to move away from the traditional format, encourage entrants of all genders, age and style to get involved. The Punchestown Festival is a celebration and like all great parties a well-dressed guest list is essential”.
The Bollinger Garden in The Style Quarter will be the epicentre of all things fashion at The Punchestown Festival. From Tuesday 25th to Friday 28th April, style scouts will be tasked with finding the most stylish attendees at the racecourse. Finalists will be selected each day and daily winners will be presented with Bollinger goodie bags complete with gorgeous AYU products. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s winners will be fast-tracked to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 28th. Stay tuned for more information on prize and format as the countdown to Punchestown 2023 continues.
The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available.
ENDS.
Punchestown 2023:
The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available. Punchestown offers a unique blend of fashion, entertainment, shopping, food, music and all the fun of a festival. The famous atmosphere comes alive when racing champions go head-to-head and Ireland’s most stylish take each other on in the fashion stakes. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will take place over the first four days with the final of the competition on Friday, 28th April. For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on social media.
About Bollinger:
BOLLINGER, the iconic Champagne House respected and beloved the world over, is proud to be associated with an event that shares the same values and aspirations as Bollinger: great food, glamorous fashion, good company and thrilling sport. Bollinger Special Cuvée is a joy to be savoured on any special occasion, with the distinctly rich and elegant “Bollinger Style” lauded and admired the world over. http://www.champagne-bollinger.com/
Super mum Julie Caulfield wins the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady competition at Punchestown Today!
The Bollinger Best Dressed Lady Competition winner on Day three of the Punchestown Festival was Julie Caulfield from Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford. The new mum wowed the Bollinger Style Council just 10 weeks after she welcomed baby Sorcha into the world.
Wearing a stunning emerald green and black two piece suit that she designed herself and teamed with an obi black belt and gorgeous hat by Caithriona King Designs.
This classic, elegant, and tailored look was finished with a black Channel bag complete with gold hardware and Steve Madden heels ensuring head to toe glamour.
The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council led by Michelle O’Sullivan of Bollinger International and stylist Marietta Doran were blown away by her very channelesque look. Julie is now fast tracked into tomorrow’s final of the competition where she will join Tuesday’s winner Dee Ahearn and yesterday’s winner Oniesa Owens. They will join five more stylish ladies selected from the crowd by the style council as ladies go peep toe to kitten heel for the much coveted title of the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown for 2022.
The winner will win a VIP trip for two to the Bollinger Estate in France complete with chauffeur driven transfers, Michellin star dining and five star luxury accommodation and a year’s supply of Bollinger Champagne.
All finalists receive a Bollinger goodie bag compromising of a bottle of delicious Bollinger Champagne and a Bollinger compact mirror, Bellamianta luxury tan, Declaré skincare, AYU make up, Kotanical essential oils and Punchestown race tickets.