Meath Accountant Lisa Walsh Wins €10,000 Galway Races Best Dressed Prize with Timeless Custom Look
Lisa Walsh, a 37-year-old accountant from Dunboyne, Co. Meath, has been named Best Dressed Lady at the 2026 Galway Races Summer Festival, claiming a €10,000 prize for a custom-made outfit that judges described as "timeless but modern" — a look that drew on Irish craftsmanship from milliner to heel.
Background
The Galway Races Ladies Day is one of the most anticipated events in the Irish social calendar, a day when Ballybrit Racecourse transforms into a showcase of Irish fashion, millinery, and personal style. Now in its 157th year, the Summer Festival has grown from a regional racing event into a nationally televised occasion that draws visitors from across Ireland and beyond, with the Best Dressed competition attracting entries from women of every background and county.
The competition, sponsored by Irish skincare brand Ella and Jo, has evolved considerably over the past decade. Where once the emphasis was on formal occasion wear — structured suits, elaborate hats, and conservative colour palettes — the modern competition rewards individuality, creativity, and a confident personal aesthetic. Judges increasingly look for outfits that tell a story, that reflect the wearer's personality, and that demonstrate a genuine engagement with Irish design and craftsmanship.
This year's judging panel comprised head judge Mandy Maher, RTÉ 2fm presenter Laura Fox, and Ella and Jo co-founder Charlene Flanagan. The panel assessed hundreds of entries across the afternoon before selecting a shortlist and ultimately naming Walsh as the overall winner.
Key Developments
Walsh's winning look was built around a custom-made dress from Only One Ashley, a bespoke Irish design label, paired with Lodi heels sourced from Fusion Fashion in Moycullen, Co. Galway. Her handbag was hired from Luxe Library, a luxury accessories rental service, and her headpiece was created by Irish milliner Fiona Rafter — a name that featured prominently on the day, as Rafter also designed the Best Hat winner's gold headpiece.
The Best Hat award, which carried a €3,000 prize, went to Maksuda Akhter, an Ireland-based model and actress who wore a gold Fiona Rafter creation that she had previously worn to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Akhter's win was celebrated as a reflection of the competition's growing diversity and its embrace of bold, statement-making style.
Walsh, speaking after her win, said she had spent months planning her outfit and had deliberately chosen to support Irish designers and makers at every stage. "I wanted everything to be Irish," she said. "From the dress to the shoes to the hat — I wanted to show what Irish design can do." Her victory was greeted warmly on social media, with many commentators praising the decision to reward a look rooted in Irish craftsmanship rather than international luxury brands.
Why It Matters
The Galway Races Best Dressed competition has become a significant platform for Irish fashion designers, milliners, and accessories makers. Winners and shortlisted entrants routinely see their chosen designers experience a surge in inquiries and orders in the days following the event, making Ladies Day one of the most commercially impactful occasions in the Irish fashion calendar. Walsh's decision to source her entire look from Irish makers — including a Galway-based shoe retailer — is likely to generate considerable interest in the labels she chose. The competition also serves as a reminder that Irish fashion design, while sometimes overshadowed by international brands, has a depth and quality that can hold its own on any stage.
Local Impact
For Galway city and county, the Summer Festival represents one of the most significant economic events of the year. The week-long festival generates tens of millions of euro for the local hospitality sector, with hotels, restaurants, and bars across the city operating at full capacity throughout the event. This year's festival, which runs until Saturday, 1 August, has been particularly well-attended, with organisers reporting strong ticket sales across all race days. The Ladies Day crowds were described by Ballybrit staff as among the largest in recent memory, with the warm weather and the proximity of the August Bank Holiday weekend contributing to a festive atmosphere throughout the racecourse.
What's Next
The Galway Races Summer Festival continues through Saturday, 1 August, with the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle among the remaining highlights on the racing card. The Best Dressed competition will be followed by a series of social events in Galway city over the Bank Holiday weekend, with the festival's economic and cultural impact expected to extend well into August. Organisers have already confirmed that planning for the 2027 festival is under way, with discussions ongoing about expanding the Ladies Day competition to include a dedicated category for sustainable and ethically sourced fashion.
