The Launch of the Westmeath Style Awards 2017
The 2017 Westmeath Style Awards were officially launched amidst glitz and glamour at a ceremony in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel last week. The event, hosted by the Westmeath Independent and Westmeath Examiner, will be held in the stylish Sheraton Athlone Hotel on Friday, May 12 next. The awards aim to recognise the best fashion and beauty related businesses in Westmeath and is a celebration of the local firms and individuals who make it their business to keep Westmeath’s fashion followers on trend.
Group Sales Manager of the Westmeath Independent and Westmeath Examiner Padraic Martin told the launch the event started in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel in 2015, before being held in Mullingar's The Greville Arms Hotel last year. This fantastic event was attended by some 300 people, with over 50 businesses from across Westmeath represented.
Mr Martin said in the previous two years, the event had attracted 300-400 nominees and entrants each year. Specsavers are for the third year the main sponsor and Padraic Martin paid particular tribute to the company which has retail presence in both Athlone and Mullingar. “They have been with us since the word go. They have been fantastic with their support,” he emphasised. He paid tribute to all the sponsors, many of whom were represented at the launch, stating the event would not be possible without their support.
The awards were a feel-good, fun event, he said, designed to “celebrate all that is good in local retail on the style side of things.” Mr Martin concluded by reminding the attendance that the event would heavily promoted both in the Westmeath Independent and Westmeath Examiner print editions but also on both papers' digital platforms.
Mary McGuigan, Group Commercial Manager, with Celtic Media News, the parent company of both Westmeath Independent and Westmeath Examiner, encouraged those in attendance to nominate businesses for the various categories. And she said one of the by-products of the awards was the business the gala ceremony brought to local stylists, hair and beauty salons and fashion outlets.
Once again, there are prizes up for grabs under ten category headings: Best Fashion Boutique, Best Accessories, Best Beauty Accessories, Best Beauty Salon / Spa, Best Hair Salon, Best Interiors, Best New Business, Best Bridal, Best in Social Media, Best in Men’s Fashion and Grooming, Best Health and Fitness. All winners in these categories will be in the running for the coveted Overall Excellence in Style Award, which was won last year by renowned hat makers Montgomery Millinery of Mount Street, Mullingar and in 2015 by Ganly's, Athlone Longford and Mountbellew.
On the night, as well as the main awards, there will be a prize for the best dressed guest (the coveted Westmeath Style Awards 2017 Most Stylish Award), and raffles held in support of charitable cause which will be revealed in due course. Once again, the MC is TV3’s Anna Daly.
Business can enter online by clicking here while entry/nomination forms will also be available at the Westmeath Independent office. Make sure to follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news.