LEOPARDSTOWN will host a ladies’ evening with a difference on Friday, May 26th. Described as “an empowering ladies evening aimed at Dublin’s business women”, the concept for the event is a collaboration between the team at Leopardstown and PR & Marketing consultant Tamso Doyle. We asked her some questions about the Leopardstown night.

Q: What was the inspiration for this event?

Pat Keogh and the team at Leopardstown had ring-fenced this race day for ladies from the time the fixture list was published. The event was brought up in discussion when racing one day and as an event consultant I immediately started to think about possible themes.

We wanted to engage ladies who are right on the doorstep of Leopardstown. It is a vibrant area for business and there is a big residential population.

We want to redefine the ladies’ day concept and move away from the frilly ladies’ day cliché. Our ladies evening will be fun and sophisticated with a view to inspire, inform, celebrate and empower ladies while keeping that ‘Friday feeling’.

Racing, style, motivational speakers and elegant dining will be central to the event. The decor racecourse-wide will reflect a high-end pink theme tying in with the charity partner’s iconic pink ribbon and the atmosphere will be truly invigorating.

Q: What do you hope to achieve on the night?

It will be a lovely evening well spent with friends and colleagues. The aim is that these key decision makers will spread the word and return to Leopardstown with more friends and family to the other meetings.

The team in Leopardstown and their caterers Fitzers are working hard on the food offerings, I think the big tip is for people to purchase their Moet & Chandon Afternoon Tea package in advance so they can be involved on the evening. The lovely thing is you are not tied down to a set place and can enjoy the experience and entertainment around the track and can get to watch all the racing.

Q: We see that Aisling Bea, Grainne Seoige and Jessica Harrington are on board. What’s their role and who else would we know there?

It was quite the coup to get Aisling on board as she is now a major star in the UK. As well as being brilliantly funny she has a great link to racing as her lovely mum Helen O’Sullivan was a jockey back in the day and is a great character who helps up and coming jockeys. Aisling also has plenty to say about women and equality.

Jessie is like a surrogate aunt to me, a no-nonsense lady who has achieved so much. I can’t wait to hear Jessie talk on the evening as she and her daughters Emma and Kate have put a lot of work and infrastructure into Commonstown over the last decade and it is wonderful to see it all paying off with their superb successes. Jessie doesn’t see barriers and is an inspirational leader to her team.

Grainne Seoige is on board to host a panel discussion on ‘Tips for Success’ for women. These can range from wellness to business to tools for confidence building. The panel will include Caroline Keeling (Keelings fruit) and Linda Thomas (brand consultant and partner in Pure Results Bootcamp).

Q: So what’s the format on the night?

There will be music on arrival, cars and jeeps on display from Spirit Motor Group and people should know something special is going on. The garden area will host a pop-up bar by Moët & Chandon as well as offering foodie delights from Dublin’s latest hotspot Urchin with some fab eats, seating, picnic benches and barista coffee. The ‘Tips for Success’ panel discussion will start in the Champions Bar from 4.30pm.

Q: Are men allowed in at all? Asking for a friend…

There are many wonderful and supportive men out there who support their wives, partners, sisters, daughters and they should be celebrated too. They are, of course, very welcome. I think we might see many men attending. If I was a man I know where I would be.

Tamso Doyle is a Communications & Events Consultant. Her clients include Horse Sport Ireland, SKI Interiors, Rahinston and private clients. Tamso organised The Point to Point & Country Fair at Dowth last October.