by JUDITH FAHERTY

Galway’s best-known drag queen has added a new string to his bow – by finishing runner up in the Best Dressed Lady competition at the Ballinrobe Racing Festival on Tuesday evening.

Eamonn Cunniss aka Twirley Chassie, from Bohermore is believed to be the first ever drag queen to enter a Ladies Day competition on an Irish racecourse, where he made the top eleven finalists and eventually went on to finish in second place.
 

Speaking to the Galway City Tribune yesterday, Eamonn’s alter ego, Twirley, expressed her delight over her success in the competition.

“It was fantastic to make the final eleven and I was just pipped at the post. I will be going on to contest the Best Dressed Lady competition at the Galway Races and all over the country from now on and will have all of my outfits sponsored by Fashionshed.com” said Twirley.

The competition was judged by RTE’s Brendan Courtney, who is making a documentary on Ladies Day Competitions at racecourses in Ireland, in which Twirley will feature.

Speaking about her outfit for the occasion, Twirley said she was striving to create the look of her fashion idol Kate Middleton, with classic 1940’s make-up, created by her personal make-up artist Sarah Carton.

“I was going for the Kate Middleton look, classy and glamorous. My dress was €29.99 in New Look and my shoes cost €10 in Dunnes Stores. It just shows that you can look elegant without spending a fortune,” added the drag queen.
 

Twirley’s hat was sponsored by Simply Chic Hat Hire, Roscam and is made by Italian Designer Da Vico. She received a voucher to the value of €120 and Swarovski jewellery for coming in second place.

She added that the judge was ‘shocked’ when he realised that Twirley was indeed a man, and it wasn’t until Twirley began to speak that this was uncovered.

Twirley Chassie will feature in Celebrity Come Dine with me in October.
 

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.