An up-and-coming Athlone milliner got the opportunity of a lifetime last weekend when her designs were chosen to feature in one of the most high profile events in the Rose of Tralee.
Paula Gannon’s designs starred alongside creations by top Irish designers Philip Treacy and Don O’Neill at the international Kerryman/ Irish Independent fashion show in Tralee on Sunday evening, in front of a crowd of over 2,500 people.
Paula, an art teacher at St Cuan’s College in Castleblakeney, Co Galway, is coordinator of the Westmeath Rose of Tralee.
She started her own millinery design business last year, having spent a number of years creating headwear for family and friends. She designed a number of pieces for this year’s Galway Races, as well as winning the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ at the Kilbeggan Races last week wearing one of her own creations.
Paula’s designs were chosen for the Rose fashion show after Westmeath Rose Aisling Baker wore a number of her designs to events during the Rose of Tralee festival.
“There was a lot of talk about them and some of the other Roses were borrowing them, so I was getting a good response. The chair of the Rose of Tralee approached me to ask me to showcase them in the fashion show. To have them alongside Don O’Neill and Philip Treacy’s designs was amazing,” says Paula.
“It is a real buzz to see my pieces out and about, and I hope this will be the start of something brilliant for me.”
