GAA stars strut their stuff in Dromoland

A DAZZLING array of glitz and glamour will be on display for Mid-West fashion lovers in Dromoland Castle at the end of the month.

Newmarket GAA Club and Stonehall National School have united to provide patrons with a feast of fashion on Thursday, March 28 to raise funds for two sports developments.
Clare hurlers Enda Barrett, Colin Ryan and Jim McInerney will strut their stuff on the catwalk with other members of the hurling championship winning team, Newmarket.
They will be joined by Clare camogie and Newmarket stars Carol O’Leary, Jenny Kelly and Joanne Walsh, who are expected to show off the latest in sports and golf wear.
Talented Newmarket designer, Leanne Ryan, who was named the second runner-up in the Triumph Inspiration Awards 2012, will also display her work. The third-year fashion design student at the Limerick School of Art and Design is also Colin Ryan’s first cousin.
Proceedings get underway with a cheese and wine reception at 7.30pm, allowing patrons the opportunity to browse the wide array of jewellery, hats, handbags, head-pieces and artwork that will be on display.
RTÉ GAA commentator Marty Morrissey will keep the audience entertained as master of ceremonies.
Twelve boutiques from Ennis, Killaloe and Limerick will showcase a huge cross-section of fashion with the help of eight models from the Hilary Thompson Agency and the Newmarket GAA contingent.
While Hilary has never presented a fashion show in Dromoland previously, she believes the venue lends itself to fashion and style.
“Dromoland Castle is a superb location for a fashion show because there is such space and elegance around the castle,” she said.
The organisers are promising fabulous prizes, including weekends away in top hotels and a corporate hospitality ticket for the forthcoming Munster versus Leinster rugby clash.
The fundraising efforts will provide Stonehall National School with a €25,000 all-weather playing area, which principal Diarmuid McMahon explains would eliminate the need to have children playing in the car park area and would facilitate leisure activities during the winter.
“The school gets great support from all the staff, parents and parents’ council for any event and benefits from a great community spirit,” he said.
Also, having ended the 31-year wait for the return of the Canon Hamilton Trophy to the famed Blues, the club is anxious to build on this success by improving dressing room facilities for up to 270 playing members.