Earlier this week, we organised a photocall with Ronan Keating and top models Holly Carpenter and Roz Purcell, wearing beautiful designs provided by fashion sponsors Boodles and Debenhams, to launch the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, which will take place at the Curragh Racecourse on Saturday, June 30th. Music will play a key role in this year’s festival, so Ronan Keating will perform on Derby Day, Saturday 30th June after racing at 8pm. 2012 marks a milestone year for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, as Ireland’s premier steeplechase will take place on a Saturday evening for the first time in its history.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is the center piece of the three day festival featuring the Good Food Ireland Village and takes place from Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July. This year will also see some of Ireland’s best musical talent take to the stage at the festival, with a live performance by The Voice of Ireland star Bressie already confirmed to perform after racing for Friday evening, 29th June, while Delorentos, who released their third consecutive Top 10 album, Little Sparks, earlier this year will perform on Sunday, 1st July. The fashion stakes are also set high for the festival with the Dubai Duty Free Most Stylish Lady in association with Boodles taking place on Derby Saturday, while Sunday 1st July will see the inaugural Debenhams’ Ultimate Ladies Day competition.
The eagerly awaited, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival featuring the Good Food Ireland Village takes place at The Curragh Racecourse this Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June. The home of Irish racing plays host to the three day festival, which sees the world’s finest thoroughbreds compete for one of the ultimate prizes in Irish sport. The racing calendar meets the social calendar over three days and attracts a diverse range of visitors including racing enthusiasts, punters, socialites, fashion fanatics, entertainment seekers and families and is sure to be a great day out for all.
Sunday 26th June is the culmination of the festival when the best Irish and international horses compete for the €1.25m prize in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. 2011 marks the fourth year of Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the Irish Derby and this year, the world’s leading airport retailer extends its support for the event by taking over as sponsors of the prestigious Most Stylish Lady Competition on Derby Day. The judges who will have the enviable task to select this year’s Most Stylish winner, include Celebrity Chef, Rachel Allen, TV and Radio Presenter, Mairead Farrell and Melanie Morris, Editor of Image Magazine. The winner will be presented with a magnificent prize of a 5 star holiday to Dubai, plus a shopping spree at Dubai Duty Free, while the runners-up will receive a vintage silver oval bracelet by Helen Fitrzpatrick for Tipperary Crystal.
The festival kicks off on Friday, 24th June with a lively six race evening programme, featuring a free concert from Boogie Nights after the final race. Saturday 25th June also includes fashion and style with the Best Accessorized Outfit competition sponsored by The Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, while beauty sponsor, Sally Hansen, will also offer prizes for the lady judged to have the Best Manicured Nails and Most Perfect Legs. The feature race on the day will be the Group One Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes, which attracts some of the top fillies in Europe, while the race is also part of the prestigious Breeders Cup Challenge Series.
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival start from €8 and are on sale now from www.curragh.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie.
A free shuttle bus will be in operation on Derby Day, 26th June from Kildare station and Paddywagon tours are operating a direct service from Dublin. For more information on travel visit here.
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Specially invited guests gathered on Wednesday evening, 8th June 2011 at the AA Hotel of the Year, The K Club in County Kildare, to celebrate the launch of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival 2011. The festival takes places at The Curragh Racecourse from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June and will feature the Good Food Ireland Village
The event set the scene for the much anticipated three day festival, taking place at the home of Irish racing, which sees the world’s finest thoroughbreds complete for one of the ultimate prizes in Irish sport. The racing calendar meets the social calendar over three days and attracts a diverse range of visitors including racing enthusiasts, punters, socialites, fashion fanatics, entertainment seekers and families and is sure to be a great weekend for all.
Irish Derby winning trainers Aidan O’Brien, Jim Bolger and John Oxx together with Derby winning jockeys Pat Smullen and Seamus Heffernan all attended.
Guests at the launch sampled a selection of delicious foods which will be available in the Good Food Ireland Village over all three days of the Festival. Country Choice, Rossmore Ice cream, The 5 Star Merrion Hotel, the world famous Ballymaloe Country House Hotel, The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, Juno’s Café, Jane Russell Homemade Sausages and Arlington Lodge County House Hotel are just some of the Good Food Ireland members who will take part this year .
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival start from €8 and are on sale now from www.curragh.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie.
Join the Curragh on Facebook for more special offers
The eagerly awaited, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival featuring the Good Food Ireland Village takes place next month at The Curragh Racecourse from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June. The home of Irish racing plays host to the three day festival, which sees the world’s finest thoroughbreds compete for one of the ultimate prizes in Irish sport. The racing calendar meets the social calendar over three days and attracts a diverse range of visitors including racing enthusiasts, punters, socialites, fashion fanatics, entertainment seekers and families and is sure to be a great day out for all.
Sunday 26th June is the culmination of the festival when the best Irish and international horses compete for the €1.25m prize in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. 2011 marks the fourth year of Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the Irish Derby and this year, the world’s leading airport retailer extends its support for the event by taking over as sponsors of the prestigious Most Stylish Lady Competition on Derby Day. The winner will be presented with a magnificent prize of a 5 star holiday to Dubai, plus a shopping spree at Dubai Duty Free, while the runners-up will receive a vintage silver oval bracelet by Helen Fitrzpatrick for Tipperary Crystal. The festival kicks off on Friday, 24th June with a lively six race evening programme, featuring a free concert from Boogie Nights after the final race. Saturday 25th June also includes fashion and style with the Best Accessorized Outfit competition sponsored by The Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, while beauty sponsor, Sally Hansen, will also offer prizes for the lady judged to have the Best Manicured Nails and Most Perfect Legs. The feature race on the day will be the Group One Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes, which attracts some of the top fillies in Europe, while the race is also part of the prestigious Breeders Cup Challenge Series.
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival start from €8 and are on sale now from www.curragh.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie. There is also a 3 day flexi ticket available between now and the 9th June, which costs just €50 and covers entrance for the entire weekend – saving you €25.
Join the Curragh on Facebook for more special offers
