From resplendent glamour to high-risk-high-rewards horse racing, the return of the Galway Races sees visors replace umbrellas, stilettos ousting runners and whimsy and adrenaline taking over from ordinary life. There is no better event to punctuate the transition that Galway, and its people go through each August, than Prom to Paddock at Salthill Hotel, which returned this year after a three year hiatus.
Prom to Paddock has been a major contender as one of the top Race Week events since beginning in 2012, with some even going so far as to say that it is THE event, with the following jaunt up to the races just an added extra to a fabulous day, all in aid of a good cause.
It may have taken place on Tuesday, August 1, but the team at Salthill Hotel were hard at work ensuring that it didn't feel like a Tuesday. Turning what you could imagine a race themed event to look like - on its head. Fashion was the real draw of Prom to Paddock, with guests adorned in scrumptious silks and fascinators that would not look out of place at the recent British royal weddings, we were guaranteed glitz and glamour and it did not disappoint.
Kicking off a jam-packed schedule featuring; canapes and bubbly drinks reception, with tunes from DJ David Shortt plus a two-course luncheon and entertainment in the form of powerhouse musician and former The X Factor contestant, Mary Byrne, and tips from experts in all things equine, Tracy Piggott and Tom Lee, this year's Prom to Paddock covered all bases, jumped every hurdle before ending with the Triple Crown.
Fundraising
Great events are one thing, great events in aid of a charity close to the heart of the people of Galway - The National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NCBRI ), are in a league of their own. The Salthill Hotel is one of many fantastic Galway hospitality venues under The Byrne Group umbrella, and with the NCBRI being the group's charity partner for 2023/24, Prom to Paddock is one of many future and past events that raise funds in aid of the very worthy cause. At each dinner table, guest were invited to donate to the NCBRI, either using cash in the envelope provided, or through QR code, these envelopes were then placed in for a generous raffle, with dinners, brunches and other delicious treats being donated by The Byrne Group venues. Buoyed up by a delicious two course meal, the donations came in thick and fast, with each table seating a raffle winner.
Research Director for the NCBRI and one of the leading voices in the management of breast cancer treatment, Professor Michael Kerin, took too the stage shortly after, saying that the money raised will help further discoveries and no doubt countless women in their battle against cancer.
"Breast cancer is very common, it is the most common cancer in women and remains the biggest killer of middle aged women, but we have made great strides in how we manage cancer now, compared to how it started when I was a young doctor 40 years ago. The survival rate for breast cancer has gone up from 50% to 88%," said Prof Kerins to a rapturous applause, explaining further that the west of Ireland had been, until recently, forgotten - or left behind - in within the area of cancer research, but thanks to local research organisation like the NCBRI, which is based in University Hospital Galway, or the Lambe Institute for Translational Research, and the support of fundraising like Prom to Paddock, this is changing.
"I am really grateful. It is pretty humbling for me as Research Director for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute to get such tremendous support from everybody, and we have actually managed to achieve lots of things already, such as educating the next generation of people coming through, which is great. I am very confident that we will soon be able to build an international class cancer programme looking after all cancers, but particularly undermined by breast cancer research, for which we are so grateful and proud. Thank you for the support."
Bringing the Fun Factor
The incredibly charismatic Mary Byrne took the room by storm, relaying her life story from Tesco cashier dreaming of more, to becoming a The X Factor semi-finalist in 2010. Unleashing her powerhouse of a voice to belt out showstoppers, Byrne began with a larger than life rendition of Shirley Bassey's Big Spender, ending her set/one-woman-show with Simply the Best which triggered an impromptu dance party that had the audience ready and raring to go off the the Racecourse, bringing all that good energy with them.
Expert tipsters, Tracy Piggott and Tom Lee took to the stage for an entertaining and enlightening debrief session for those looking to win big at the Galway Races. A duo that balance each other well, even those who can't tell one end of a horse from the other, enjoyed hearing their run down on this year's equine contenders. Galway's weather is undependable at the best of time, but thanks to decades of experience in two substantial racing broadcasting careers, the duo prepared the audience for every eventuality and race, regardless of weather.
The MC's for the day were presenter, podcaster and producer, Meghann Scully and 2FM DJ and presenter Laura Fox, both native Galwegians who made the long trip home to partake in the return of the very missed Prom to Paddock at Salthill Hotel.
