Upfront Model News

The sun shone brightly for the launch of Killarney Races in the magical surroundings of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club last night (Monday). Upfront models posed for a photo call before the official proceedings began . . .

At the launch, Gerard Coughlan, General Manager, Dawn Dairies Killarney, officially announced - top stylists and TV celebrities, Andrea Roche and Lisa Fitzpatrick, as the judges of the prestigious Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion Ladies Day on Thursday 16th of July. The winner of the title Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion will win a trip for two to New York City as well as a specially commissioned Crystal Vase. Due to the success of the inaugural - Dawn Dairies Most Stylish Hat Award last year, once again ladies will have the opportunity to use their imagination and sense of style, and compete for this stand alone Award. This category will be judged by Lisa and Andrea and will be awarded to the most stylish hat or head piece on course on ladies day. The winner will receive a fabulous weekend in the gracious Mount Juliet House and dinner on one of the nights in their award winning Lady Helen restaurant. Plus, very appropriately, a trail ride on horse back though their 1,500 acre estate. The Dawn Dairies Most Stylish Hat winner will also receive a specially commissioned Crystal Vase and a limited edition Ronnie Ryan head piece (sponsored by Jacob’s Creek).

Gerard Coughlan, General Manager, Dawn Dairies
Over the past few years, we have invited stylish celebrity couples, including Brian Ormond and Pippa O Connor, and Lisa and Keith Duffy, to judge the Queen of Fashion competition on Ladies Day. So, this year we once again decided to ask not one, but two, Irish style icons to do the honours!. Both are recipients of the prestigious VIP style award and are familiar faces from their frequent appearance in fashion magazines and on TV. So I am delighted to reveal that former Miss Ireland, top model and stylist Andrea Roche and fellow stylist and TV presenter, Lisa Fitzpatrick are our judges for the Queen of Fashion and Stylish Hat Award on Ladies Day. We look forward to welcoming Andrea and Lisa and know they will prove to be a winner alright for the thousands of ladies who make their annual stylish pilgrimage to our Dawn Dairies Ladies Day in Killarney.

Andrea Roche and Lisa Fitzpatrick will follow in the footsteps of many other Irish style icons who have previously judged the Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion including celebrity couples, Brian Ormond and Pippa O Connor and boyzone pop star Keith Duffy and his wife Lisa, top models including former Miss World Rosanna Davison, Natasha Byram, Marie Staunton and Yvonne Keating, and TV personalities Grainne Seoige, Caroline Morahan and Anne Doyle.

Once again, ladies day at Killarney will be co ordinated by top communications and Event Management Company, Upfront PR (who also managed Kerry Fashion Weekend).

The Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion attracts capacity crowds and ends the popular four day meeting (13th - 16th July) on a super stylish high note! In addition to sponsoring the Dairies Dairies Queen of Fashion, Dawn also sponsors the days racing including the feature race the EUR5,500 Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle and the EUR11,000 Dawn Flavoured Milk Handicap and the EUR11,000 Dawn Omega Milk Handicap, making the day a winner alright both on and off the track! This is Dawns 29th year of sponsoring racing in Killarney. Dawn Dairies is part of the international food and food ingredients company, Kerry Group plc.

This years four day July festival has three evening meetings (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) and one afternoon (Thursday). Admission is EUR20 and children under 12 are free. For more information contact Micheal Lucey, Secretary Manager, Killarney Race Company on 064 66 31125. For more information on the Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion please contact: Orla Diffily, Upfront PR. Telephone: 066 97 95004 / 086 8399115

http://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am.php?video=10571&locID=1.65.74

Check out Kerri on Ireland AM this morning!

Kerri also gave a wonderful interview LIVE from Grafton Street on Deirdre Walshs popular show on Radio Kerry and made the front page of our papers this morning.

Looking forward to tomorrow night.

Kerry music lovers enjoyed a classical treat when Deo Volente premiered for one night only, on Friday 19th of June, in St Johns Church of Ireland, Ashe Street, Tralee, County Kerry. Capacity crowds filled the Church on a bright summers evening and were delighted by a performance of exceptional talents in aid of two very worthy causes - St. Johns Restoration Fund and Tralee Mental Health Association.

Performers, Iona Le Gros and Roel Villones opened the show at 8.00pm and the night also included very special guests the OPUS choir. The Musical Director was Aine Murray and the Show was created and produced by Padraig Dennehy.

We are happy to announce that Deo Volente is available to tour nationally and is perfect for community groups or charities wishing to fund raise whilst giving everyone a highly entertaining and enjoyable evening. For more information on how to book Deo Volente, contact us, their official booking agent Upfront Management on 066 97 95004.

Image shows, Deo Volente Producer, Padraig Dennehy, Iona Le Gros and with Roel Villones at the premier in St. John’s Church of Ireland, Ashe Street, Tralee, last Friday 19th of June.

Miss Universe Kerry, Kerri O Connor
to compete in Miss Universe Ireland in City West Hotel, Dublin on Friday

Kerri will be on first on Ireland AM at 8.30am Thursday morning (25th of June)
Text Miss a to 53133

Killarney beauty, Kerri O Connor, packed her bags and travelled up to Dublin this morning to compete in the Miss Universe pageant finale at the glittering gala event on Friday at City West Hotel in Dublin. The event will be mc’ed by former Miss World Rosanna Davison and overseen by national pageant organiser, top model Andrea Roche. Kerri will compete for the crown against 20 other girls from all over Ireland. On the night, Kerry will be supported by her friends and family, her sponsors, the Irwin sisters from Envy boutique and her model agency, Upfront Models, who own the franchise for the Pageant in Kerry.

To ensure that Kerri looks her very best on Friday, she had a make up master-class with Kathryn O Neill, head of make up artistry with Daniel Sandler Ireland; a full consultation and expert colour from hair guru, Pat O Neill at the Style Suite at the Brehon; a day in the fabulous Espa Spa at the Europe Hotel, jewellery from Orla Murphy and an especially designed gown by Clodagh Irwin from Envy Boutique. Kerri has already extensive undergone deportment and styling training with Upfront Models and is no stranger to the runway having starred in many shows including the Kerry Designer of the Year Awards in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel which was televised by TV3.

Good luck Kerri. Images from the night will be posted on line Saturday 27th of June.

Heats to find the new Miss Universe Kerry will commence in September. If you would like to enter or host a heat, please contact Louise James on 066 9795004.

Photo here shows Louise James at the Miss Kerry finale in Fabric in March 09

We had a lot of fun on the longest day of the year, Sunday 21st of June, when our A team of hair, make up, stylists, models and photographers, gathered in the luxurious surroundings of the penthouse suite of the Aghadoe Heights Hotel in Killarney. The mission to photograph the work of award winning milliner, Kathleen McAuliffe. Kathleen was declared the Kerry Accessory Designer of the Year by Melanie Morris (IMAGE) and top designers Louise Kennedy and Don O Neill, over KFW in April and the photo shoot was part of her prize valued at EUR10,000.

Hats: Kathleen McAuliffe, Kerry Accessory Designer of the Year 09.
Clothes: Matt Doody (KFW One to Watch winner 09) and Avoca.
Accessories: Mo Muse (KFW nominee 2009) and range from Kathleen McAuliffes own collection.
Photography: Barry Murphy.
Styling: Louise James at Upfront Model Management.
Hair: Pat O Neill, style suite, the Brehon Hotel, www.patoneill.ie.
Make up: Kathryn O Neill for Daniel Sandler Cosmetics. www.danielsandler.com
kathryn.oneill@danielsandler.com
Production: Orla Diffily, Upfront PR.
Models: Rachel G and Grace M at Upfront Model Management.
Location: Penthouse Suite, Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney
Thanks to Marie and Pat Chawke and their team at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney.

Well done to Grace M and Rachel G. You were both fabulous.

Images shown are behind the scenes taken on my iphone. Some of the images from the shoot will be uploaded next week.

Taking on the Universe VIP style.
Last week we travelled to Dublin for a photocall with our Miss Universe Kerry, Kerri O Connor, for VIP magazine. Organised by Andrea Roche, the day also featured a shoot with national media with former Miss World, the gorgeous Rosanna Davison and beautiful top stylist, Lisa Fitzpatrick. Lynn Kelly, the current Miss Universe Ireland, (who with the fabulous Liz Greehy, stylebible.ie and kerry footballer star, Paul Galvin selected Kerri as the winner in Club Fabric Tralee in March) was also at the shoot and was as charming and elegant as she is captivating beautiful.

Check it out.http://www.tv3.ie/xpose.php?video=9904&locID=1.65.68

Killarney beauty, Kerri O Connor, will compete in the pageant finale at the glittering gala event on Friday 26th of June at City West Hotel in Dublin. On the night, Kerry will be supported by her friends and family, her sponsors, the Irwin sisters from Envy boutique and her model agency, Upfront Models, who manage the Pageant in Kerry. For more information telephone Louise James or Orla Diffily on 066 9795004.

Kerri has a number of commitments to fulfill before the Miss Universe finale including photo shoots with national publications and appearances on Ireland AM.

To ensure that she looks her very best on the night, Kerri will have a make up master-class with Kathryn O Neill, head of make up artistry with Daniel Sandler Ireland, a full consultation and expert colour from hair guru, Pat O Neill; a day in the fabulous Espa Spa at the Europe Hotel, jewellery from Orla Murphy and an especially designed gown by Clodagh Irwin from Envy Boutique. Kerri has already undergone deportment and styling training with Upfront Models and is no stranger to the runway having starred in many shows including the Kerry Designer of the Year Awards in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel which was televised by TV3.

If anyone wishes to go to Dublin to support Kerri at the Miss Universe Ireland Final please telephone 066 9795004. Heats to find the new Miss Universe Kerry will commence in September. If you would like to enter or host a heat, please contact Louise James on 066 9795004.