At the Galway Knees Up: 1. Karen Koster; 2. Eugene Murray, Evelyn O’Rourke & Gerry Ryan; 3. Ruby Walsh & Hector O’hEochagain. Pics.: Aengus McMahon.
The inaugural “Galway Knees Up” in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation took place in the Hotel Meyrick in Galway. The event took place following “Ladies Day” at the Galway Races and was deemed a huge success, raising about €50,000. The “Galway Knees Up” is now set to become an annual event closely tied in with the racing community and wider audience who descend on Galway each year for the races.
MCs for the evening, Xpose’s Karen Koster and Hector O’hEochagain, were a well balanced pair as they set the tone and entertained guests with their witty banter. Other well known people in attendance included champion jockeys Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy, Image editor Melanie Morris, as well as Gerald Keane and Lisa Murphy.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted with a drinks reception to help celebrate the day’s winnings. While upstairs the Spa Refresh Zone, sponsored by Brown Thomas and Bellissimo in Galway was full of men and women getting touched up after the long day in Ballybrit.
The auction was a great success with Padraig Harrington’s autographed Driver, which he used to capture his second consecutive British Open Championship title in 2008 and the Fender Stratocaster Guitar bearing Bono & his two daughters Even & Jordan’s illustrations from the Peter & The Wolf production together with Bono’s autograph, both gaining strong bids helped by Hector’s auctioneering skills!
Karen Koster and Mandy Maher from Galway’s premier modeling agency, Catwalk Models, were given the tough job of selecting the “Knees Up Knockout”. The title was awarded to Sligo’s Brid Brett, who was presented with a one off head piece, designed specifically for the event by Galway Milliner, Emily Jean O'Byrne.