Celebrity chef and style icon Clodagh McKenna has been announced as the Lead Fashion Judge for the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Best Dressed Competition, taking place on Sunday, 29th June at the iconic Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare.
Best known as the resident chef on ITV’s This Morning, Clodagh is also a best-selling author, respected food columnist, and passionate advocate for sustainability. She lives on Broadspear, a 100-acre farm in Hampshire, England, with her husband Harry Herbert, their dogs, hens, ducks, pigs and Aberdeen Angus cattle. Though born and raised in Cork with no farming background, Clodagh has embraced country life with enthusiasm and purpose. Over the past five years, the couple has lovingly restored an eighteenth-century walled vegetable garden, planted wildflower meadows, built a pickling shed, and established working beehives and orchards.
Her culinary achievements include eight published cookbooks, most recently In Minutes, which topped best-seller lists in both Ireland and the UK. She contributes a weekly food column to The Sunday Times Magazine and has hosted several TV series including Fresh From the Farmers’ Markets and Fresh From The Sea. She has also made regular appearances on The Marilyn Denis Show in Canada and The Today Show in the USA and won ITV’s Cooking with the Stars in 2022. In addition to running cookery days in her newly renovated London home, she curates a popular online homeware brand, Clodagh’s Shop.
Now, Clodagh will swap her muddy boots for heels and a hat as she steps onto a different kind of turf — the revered grounds of the Curragh Racecourse — to lead the fashion charge at this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Despite living in rural England, she maintains strong ties to Ireland and regularly returns to visit friends and family. Her husband, Harry Herbert, was born at Highclere Castle, famously known as the setting for the global hit TV series Downton Abbey, and his family has owned the estate since the late 17th century. He is also the managing director and founder of Europe’s leading racing company, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
The Ballymaloe-trained chef will be joined by Harry when she judges the Best Dressed Competition at this year’s event and said, “Harry just loves Irish racing, and he has been working with Irish breeders and trainers for over 20 years. So, he’s really excited that we will be going together, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
“I am also really looking forward to a fantastic day of style and glamour,” said Clodagh. “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse is one of the most elegant days of the year, and I am really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful style on the day. Also, literally being on my own turf makes it even more special.”
Clodagh will be joined on the judging panel by lifestyle and fashion writer Bairbre Power and Alpana Cidambi, representing Dubai Duty Free, the event’s long-standing title sponsor. “I’ll be looking for glamour, elegance, and a touch of personality,” Clodagh added. “I love to have excuse to get on the finery! Fashion and style is a passion of mine and it’s something I really enjoy.”
Fellow judge Bairbre Power commented, “It’s wonderful to see people express their creativity and confidence through what they wear. The Best Dressed Competition always brings out some incredible fashion, and I’m expecting to see everything from timeless chic to bold, contemporary looks. Irish racegoers never disappoint.”
The winner of the Best Dressed Competition will receive a spectacular prize package from Dubai Duty Free, including return flights for two to Dubai, five nights at the luxurious Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, and €1,000 spending money to enjoy at the award-winning airport retailer.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival runs from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June, with the Derby itself taking place on Sunday. Last year’s race was won by Los Angeles, trained by Aidan O’Brien, marking his record-extending 16th Irish Derby victory. Jockey Ryan Moore rode Los Angeles to a thrilling finish ahead of strong contenders Sunway and Ambiente Friendly. This year marks the 160th running of the Irish Derby and the day promises to be a celebration of the incredible legacy and spectacle of the race.
Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi will host guests in the stunning St. Leger Restaurant at the Curragh on Derby Day. Since becoming title sponsor in 2008, Dubai Duty Free has significantly elevated the prestige of the event, sponsoring six of the eight races on Sunday and helping it earn its place as one of the premier fixtures on the global racing calendar. In addition to domestic coverage on RTÉ, the event will be broadcast internationally by Fan Duel, Green Channel Japan, and Racing TV, ensuring massive global exposure.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Ramesh Cidambi said: “Sports sponsorship is part of Dubai Duty Free’s marketing strategy and that has been the case for many years as it enables the business to reach a global audience via the media exposure that goes with the various sporting events the company is involved with. We are looking forward to a great day of racing and entertainment at The Curragh, one of the world’s most iconic racecourses and home to all five of the Irish Classics.”
Dubai Duty Free is also a major sponsor of other international events and is the owner and organiser of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which takes place in February in Dubai and has been won by legends such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Venus Williams. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Best Dressed Competition takes place on Sunday, 29th June at the Curragh Racecourse, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Tickets are available to purchase at www.curragh.ie.
-ENDS-
For further press information, photography or to request an interview, please contact Aileen O’Brien, O’Brien PR (086) 8403624 [email protected]