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My passion for Millinery started because of Best Dressed Lady Competitions at the races. I just couldn’t find any hats or headpieces that reflected my true personality. I wanted to wear unique imaginative headpieces that turned heads for all the right reasons.
Phone 087 6507730
In September 2010 Sarah Cass, from Kilkenny, was declared The annual Bollinger Best Hat competition winner, wearing Eve Lime green snakeskin pillbox topped with yellow crinoline spirals, lime and olive feathers, topped with white roses and finished with a yellow butterfly landing gently on a rose.
I started making hats to go with outfits I had put together, getting more and more confident as I went along. It payed off! I won Best Dressed at Listowel Races in 2007 and won the Big one Galway Races Ladies Day in 2008 (pictured left) while four months pregnant.
Ladies who have worn my hats have had a lot of success at Ladies Days, I was only in business a month when I won most stylish Hat at Killarney Races in July 2010 in Meadow a magenta butterfly hat and matching dress.
This was followed two weeks later by Ann Marie O’Leary winning Best Dressed at Galway races wearing one of my hats, Charlotte a sequined clad base accessorized with large dahlias in tones of taupe, cream and dusky pink (below Right).
In October 2010 Siobhan Walsh, of Glitz n’ Glamour boutique Newcastlewest won First Prize of a €5,000 diamond ring at Limerick Races. Siobhans hat was “Cheryl” from the Carol Kennelly Millinery collection. Waves of black merry widow veiling appears to float and swirl above Siobhan’s head. Two golden roses gently rest on a black high gloss lacquered straw base
Sinead O'Sullivan from Killorglin, (left) came second winning a €1,500 voucher Sineads hat was “Zoe” from the Carol Kennelly Millinery collection.This crazy blast of cyan, hot pink and black seem to explode from a glimmering sequined base with accents of the same colour.
Ann Marie O’Leary winning Best Dressed at Galway races in 2010
Carol Kennelly winning Best Hat at Killarney Races in July 2010
Carol Kennelly winning Best dressed lady at Listowel Races 2007
Sarah Cass
Sinead O’Sullivan, Killorglin
Siobhan Walsh, Newcastlewest
Carol Kennelly winning Best Dressed at Galway races in 2008
Well done to Joann Murphy from Kilgarvan, winner of best hat at the Dawn Daries Killarney Races Ladies Day on Thursday. The Judges Brendan Courtney and Lisa Fitzpatrick choose Joann who was wearing a giant Ruby Red rose also pictured is Elaine Kelliher who was runner up in the Best dressed lady both hats designed by Carol Kennelly Millinery
Joann Murphy and Elaine Kelleher at Killarney Races Ladies Day 14th July 2011
Winner Alright! Beautiful Helen Noud won best Accessories at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival 2011 The Curragh Racecourse on Saturday, 25th June 2011. Helen was Fab wearing a Red Stop Staring Dress, a Carol Kennelly Millinery Hat.
Helen Noud
The Countdown is on to the 2011...
Galway Ladies Day
ONE WEEK TO GO
Choose your outfit. Let your body shape and colouring dictate your choice, not what the latest fashion pages are showing.
Try on your complete outfit. Check if any alterations need to be made, and make sure your outfit is clean and pressed.
Make sure your hat is eye catching, (for all the right reasons) Walk around the house in it for an hour or so, just to make sure it doesn’t pinch and that there is no problems with it staying in place
Make sure your bag shoes and jewellery compliment your outfit. Too matchy matchy isn’t always the best route to take
Let your personality shine through with your choice of outfit
Have a matching umbrella on standby in case the weather turns nasty
TWO DAYS TO GO
Get your spray tan professionally done.
ONE DAY TO GO
Get your nails done, toes also if they will be exposed
Pack your handbag with all the little lifesavers, safety pins,
headache tablets, pen, hair clips, plasters and a
spare €50 note
DAY OF THE RACES,
Have your hair done
Arrive at the course early before your winning outfit gets lost in the
rush, over 150,000 attend the summer festival, if you leave it too late
you can spend up to three hours in traffic
Enjoy the day in the company of good friends, it’s all about having fun.
Smile, confidence is the best accessory you can have on ladies day.
Carol Kennelly, previous winner of Galway Races Ladies Day, Designed the hat for the 2010 Winner, won best dressed at Listowel Races Ladies Day and Tralee Races Ladies Day (twice) shares her tips for preparation coming up to Ladies Day
Carols Top Tips for Ladies Day Success