Style evening fashion wows at Waterford's hugely popular Tramore Races

Louisa Murphy wins the Style Stakes at Tramore Races. Photo: Patrick Browne
Style Evening at the Tramore Races August Racing Festival took place on Saturday evening, August 16, and the winner was a firm favourite with the crowd.
Local woman Louisa Murphy caught the eye of the fashion scouts early in the evening with style judge Niamh de Brún commenting: "It was a tough decision but for me, she was always the one to beat!"

Louisa wore a beautiful two-piece from the sustainable fashion label Farm Rio paired with a Millinery by Mel hat, Manolo Blahnik heels, earrings by Rosie and Dot and a bag she purchased from a beach trader in Duncannon, Co. Wexford, just two weeks ago to complete her stylish look.

Her heels were the ‘talk of the festival’ as Louisa explained to the audience: "Today, I'm wearing the famous Manolos! You see one of these heels got caught in a grate recently at the Galway Races, where I attended with friends for a day out, and needless to say the cameras were quick to catch the moment.

"It was just so funny and I didn't think any more about it until later when it aired on TV and the next day I was in all the papers, it was mighty craic and today I suppose you could say they've brought me luck!
"I've been dressing up for Ladies Day for the last eight years here at Tramore Races and I've never been picked even as a finalist, so to be picked out and to actually win is really a dream come true, I'm delighted!"

Louisa is a hairdresser from Tramore and owns two successful salons in the town and one in Wexford. Her husband John Flavin is a local horse trainer and on the morning of racing they had over 100 guests visit their racing yard for an open morning.
"Just this morning I was cooking breakfast and making sausage blaas for our guests to enjoy after their tour with John around the yard to see all the horses and now this, it's been a really great day!" Louisa said.

Her prize, compliments of Waterford Castle Resort & Walsh Group Hotels, includes a two-night stay at Waterford Castle, complete with breakfast and dinner and €500 cash.
Runners-up were Roisin Logan and husband and wife duo Gillian Kelleher and Raymon Gilbourne, who won afternoon tea and also golf for two at Waterford Castle.