Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara

So, you have you got your outfit ready for this year’s Galway Races Festival?

All the boutiques in the city and county are stocking glamorous racing outfits ahead of the annual extravaganza, which really is a marvellous chance to get dolled up and let the hair down.

While the vast majority of us wouldn’t even attempt to win the array of prizes for best dressed, it’s still nice to make an effort and feel great in Ballybrit.

Comfort is key, it’s a long day and there could be 40 seasons in one day up there.

I remember being up there on Monday last year when the sun was splitting the rocks; on the Friday we left after the fourth race such was the lashing we got and every conceivable indoor area packed to the rafters and uncomfortable.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to feel great. Pull out something out of the back of your wardrobe that you wore to a wedding five years ago and accessorise differently.

Or hit the second-hand shops.

We were recently at a wedding and two of my friends had got headpieces from charity shops for a steal.  This time of the year is especially good to grab a bargain for dressy outfits.

Cope Galway have made this an annual tradition, quietly putting away donated pieces which would work beautifully for the races.

“The shop crew have made a big effort to get the styles ready and would love to tell people about it,” explains Cope marketing manager Colette Coughlan.

“Our volunteers have been growing their collection specifically to find items that are perfect for racegoers. They are inviting you to stop by for styling advice from the shop’s dedicated volunteers and browse the high-quality, curated collection of elegant outfits.”

And each purchase has a feelgood factor to it. With every item you buy from the Cope Galway Charity Shop, you support the charity’s homeless, domestic abuse and senior support services.

This week we feature a selection of those styles modelled by volunteers Kiara Ford and Gayathri Sajeev at the Ardilaun Hotel that will be available for sale at the St Augustine Street stop from next week.

The collection boasts has a huge range of headpieces, dresses, shoes and jewellery. To see more highlights from the collection, visit the @copegalwayshop Facebook and Instagram pages.