Her's Galway Races Best Hat winner will walk away with a VIP stay in The Lodge at Ashford Castle.

They say that the hat maketh the man, and it's certainly the thing that could make the difference on Ladies' Day at this year's Galway Races. On Thursday, August 1, stylish women from across the country will descend upon Ballybrit racecourse for Ladies' Day – and the Her Best Dressed competition. One essential element of any race-day outfit is a headpiece, and every year the Best Dressed competitors come adorned with an array of creative and colourful creations, from designer hats and fascinators to vintage finds and even home-made chapeaus. Be it a bonnet, boater, fedora, fascinator or even a stetson, the piece that stands out from the crowd takes home the Best Hat award. With hairbands, headpieces and crowns fully on trend for 2019, we expect that the standard of competition for this year's Best Hat is going to be the highest ever. That's why the winner will walk away with a prize that's every bit as head turning: a VIP stay at The Lodge at Ashford Castle. Situated near to Cong in Co. Mayo, The Lodge at Ashford Castle is a luxury retreat with stunning views over Lough Corrib. The Best Hat prize, which is valued at over €1,500 consists of a two-night stay for two people in one of the beautifully-decorated Lakeview suites. The winner will enjoy a Full Irish breakfast daily, as well as dinner on one evening in Wilde's, where head chef Jonathan Keane – voted Best Chef in Connaught last year – serves up contemporary Irish cuisine. The views of the lake from this first-floor restaurant are not to be missed.   For another unforgettable experience, the Her Best Hat prize also includes a one-hour hawk walk at Ireland's first school of falconry. It's guaranteed to be an amazing experience, not to mention photo opportunity. A literal feather in the cap for the Her Best Hat winner! So if you want to get your hands on that particular crown (pun intended) this Ladies' Day, the people whose eye your headpiece needs to catch are our trio of judges: Galway native and TV personality Síle Seoige, nutritionist and best-selling author Rosanna Davison and Her’s Gillian Fitzpatrick.   As well as seeking out a Best Dressed winner, the stylish trio will be looking for a hat or headpiece that stands out in terms of style, originality, construction and flair. The winning headpiece will work with the winner's outfit, rather than fighting against or even overwhelming it. As well as the judging panel, Her's team of style spotters will be scouring every inch of Ballybrit to make sure that the most original and stylish looks make the finals of the Her Best Hat and Best Dressed competitions. With the Galway Races celebrating 150 years at this year's festival, Ladies' Day is an event not to be missed. Main image: 2016 winner Lisa McGowan. Photo INPHO/Ryan Byrne