Limerick woman wins best hat title at Galway Races

A LIMERICK woman has won an award for Best Hat at this year’s Galway Races. 

Eva Hayes Morrissey from Ahane, Co Limerick was crowned this year’s winner for her hat creation at the Ballybrit racecourse. 

Ms Hayes Morrissey won €3,000 for her efforts at the racecourse this Ladies Day on Thursday, August 1, as the Galway Summer Racing Festival is in full swing. 

A geography and history teacher at Castletroy College, Ms Hayes Morrissey donned a red and gold disc-like hat, created by milliner, Caithriona King from Corofin.

Upon being named winner, Ms Hayes Morrissey said: "I'm delighted, thrilled. We have two horses at home, myself and my husband, and we do a little bit of everything, eventing, hacking - you name it. 

"Back in February, I got in contact with Julie who makes my dresses and Cathriona, who made my hat, we showed her the sketches and she was able to come up with something to compliment the dress."

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This is not Ms Hayes Morrissey's first time scooping a prize for her fashion choices at the races, however, as she won Most Stylish Lady in Limerick racecourse in 2013. 

Ms Hayes Morrissey is widely recognised for her fashion choices at various race meetings and was also named the Most Stylish Lady at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in The Curragh in 2016. 

At that raceday, she had just given birth to her first child 10 weeks previous. Ms Hayes Morrissey is now a mother of two. 

She also garnered much attention at last year’s Dublin Horse Show, known for always putting her most glamorous foot forward. 

Judging the 2024 Best Dressed Lady competitions at the Galway Races was well-known stylist Mandy Maher, joined by Kieran O’Malley of the Connacht Hospitality Group and award winning make-up artist, social media influencer and ‘Mrs Glam’ brand co-creator, Michelle Regazzoli-Stone.