It takes months of planning, rating the competition, and often some physical training to be in the running for Ladies' Day at the Galway Races.
"I started organising my outfit in March," said Clare Boyle from Sligo, as she showed off her powder-blue dress and white hat. "I'd love to win the Brown Thomas Best-Dressed Person competition. It would be such an honour."
Thousands of women sported extravagant outfits on a glorious sunny day at Ballybrit. Some were keen to win the competition. For others, it was simply a good excuse to get dressed up.
"I'm just the bag man," said Mike Naughton from Galway as he held the handbags of his girlfriend, Kerry Dowling, and his sister Jacinta while they posed for photographers.
Kerry wore a pink dress and a lily in her hair. She had been dreaming about her outfit for six weeks, she said. Kerry explained the couple had just got engaged while up a mountain in Co Kerry. "I went up a mountain and came down with a rock," she said, pointing to her impressive ring.
Maria McManus from Naas bought her charcoal dress in the Canary Islands. The word in some circles at Ballybrit was that hats were a tad boring these days. Lorna Felton from Galway wore what is called a "hair structure" - a huge, multi-coloured construction which towered into the sky. It was made of hair, which had been varnished and then baked.
Another eye-catching creation was by Henk van Enk, a Dutch florist who has just moved to Galway. He displayed his abilities in the massive floral structure wrapped around the upper body of his girlfriend, Muttanja Overbeeke. It was made of exotic plants and wood.
Perhaps the nicest hat was worn by Anne Carroll from Bearna, Co Galway. She decorated an old sweet tin with flowers freshly picked from her garden. "There are petunias and roses and goodness knows what else up there," she said.
In the afternoon, the winners of the Brown Thomas Best Dressed Person competition entered the parade ring. "This is the day male hormones go into orbit, and now we see why," said the man announcing the result.
Nicola O'Reilly from Galway won first prize. She wore a tight-fitting white trouser suit by Dolce Gabbana. Her red, feather hat was made by her mother. The judging panel was chaired by Emer O'Reilly-Hyland, editor of VIP Style.
"We thought Nicola looked really smart and it's a very sexy outfit. We also knew she wouldn't be shy or retiring in front of the media," said Ms O'Reilly-Hyland as Nicola twirled for the photographers.
The parade ring at Ballybrit is normally a sedate place with only a few quiet words exchanged between jockeys, trainers, and owners. But that all changed just before the £110,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle.
"If there are any intelligent people here, you should back Ansar, and if you're stupid, well I don't know," a man shouted at the top of his voice. Eyebrows were raised and there certainly wasn't a stampede towards the bookmakers.
The man was Glen Devlin from Culloville in south Armagh, whose mother Kay part-owns the horse. Ansar was a 6-1 shot for the Galway festival's richest race. He had won a less valuable hurdle race easily on Monday, so connections decided to race him again.
They weren't disappointed. He put in a mighty leap at the final flight and romped home three lengths clear of his nearest rival. Mr Devlin went crazy. "Yes! Yes! Yahoo! I'm the king of Galway!" he yelled, jumping in the air.
He heaped praise on the horse's trainer, Dermot Weld: "God bless f***ing Dermot Weld." When Ansar returned to the winner's enclosure, Mr Devlin was told to be quiet because he was frightening the horse. He paid no attention. He was still yelling in jubilation as he headed off to buy champagne.