The deserving winner of our Women & Agriculture makeover was Gretta O’Leary, who lives on a dairy farm in Cecilstown near Mallow, Co Cork, with her husband Gus and also cares for her son Martin, who has special needs. This is her winning letter:
“I’m sure you will be inspired by many wonderful women at the conference. I would love to win this for my wonderful sister and myself. I have a very good husband, Gus, and seven children. My youngest son has special needs. He is 24-hour care. When he was born, I suppose fear for the future and how we would cope were a big thing. I was also feeling guilty I was the one who caused this. He arrived after five girls and we had such hopes and dreams for him like any new-born baby in a family. We struggled to cope. We had a very sick baby, but a determined young man. As the years moved on, he attended a day care centre and coming home at night. He has many friends now and is as a fine young man, he is very happy. Through all this, his dad had a quadruple bypass and seven stents done. I would love to win this prize as I don’t get much pamper time. I’ve no doubt I’ll have a few more journeys with them, but for now it’s time to love and enjoy what we have got.”
As part of her prize, Gretta invited her sister, Sheila Deady, to share her special day. A retired nurse, Sheila lives on a drystock farm near Banteer, Co Cork, with her husband Pat. She has also faced challenges in life, suffering a stroke 11 years ago, however, her positive attitude has gone a long way towards her recovery and living life to the full.
Fashion
Gretta and Sheila were styled by Paco: the Irish-owned company best known for its colourful designs, ranging from casual separates to more formal looks, available in sizes 10-22. Manager of Paco in Tralee, Eileen Whelan, explains why she chose these two looks for Gretta and Sheila: “These outfits are very practical and easy to put together to fit in with the ladies’ busy lifestyles, as I believe it is important to get value out of your clothes. I also chose pieces that could be mixed and matched easily. For instance, the tops could go just as well with a pair of trousers they might already have at home. Accessories like the colourful scarves pull the looks together and make them that bit dressier if meeting friends or going to town. It’s all about being comfortable but looking good and feeling good,” says Eileen.
For further information or to shop online, visit www.paco.ie
Look 1: Gretta O'Leary and Sheila Deady in their first look from Paco \ Donal O'Leary
Gretta
Eileen: “These Just Elegance trousers are high-waisted and very comfortable to wear, while the layered top is very flattering. The cream poncho is autumnal and versatile and the fox print scarf gives the look a pop of colour.”
Just Elegance high-waist trousers €36.95Just Elegance layered top €34.95Cream poncho €22.50Fox print scarf €9.95Necklace €12.95Bag €29Sheila
Eileen: “People are often afraid to wear jeggings, but the high-waist design means they are very comfortable and really flatter Sheila’s frame. The blue and pink print in the top is bright for winter, the grey fleece is easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion and the runners add a bit of sparkle!”
Paco fleece €45Paco jeggings €29.95Just Elegance top €24.95Runners €29.95Scarf €9.95
Look 2: Gretta O'Leary and Sheila Deady in their second look \ Donal O'Leary
Gretta
Eileen: “The minute we put this orange fleece on Gretta, the colour just popped on her. The jersey top and navy trousers are extremely comfortable and the scarf just pulls the whole look together.”
Just Elegance high-waist trousers €29.50Just Elegance striped top €32.95Paco fleece €39.95Scarf €9.95Bag €29Sheila
Eileen: “While Sheila would not usually wear a dress, the colours really suit her. While it can be easily worn on its own, the blue blazer and scarf just make it that bit dressier.”
Paco dress €36Paco jacket €36Scarf €9.95Hair & Make-Up
As part of their prize, Gretta and Sheila were also treated to a hair styling session and make-up lesson at Sean Taaffe Hair & Beauty in Killarney.
Style director Carleen O’Shea explained how she achieved the ladies’ look: “With Gretta, we graduated the back of her hair to add more depth and definition, then we lightened around the sides to give a more feathered, softer look around her face and added a fringe for framing. One of the products I used was Moroccan oil root boost, which gives amazing volume before blow drying to any hair type. This will be an easy style to maintain, as she can just wash and go and it will sit in place.
“Sheila only had her hair cut recently, so I just tidied about the ears and the nape of the neck to give a sharper, more polished look. We then blow-dried using the Moroccan oil root boost and we swept her fringe back off her face to show off her beautiful make-up. Once dry, I worked in a product called Alfaparf glossy pomade to give a more textured, defined finish with shine and hold.”
I love the way that the girls from Paco co-ordinated the looks and I have lots of little hair and make-up tips I hope to take home with me.
Make-up
Meanwhile, Michelle O’Connor, make-up artist and owner of the Vanity Case at Sean Taaffe’s, explained how she achieved a simple, natural look for both ladies.
“I wanted to teach the ladies an easy-to-use routine that they can do at home themselves, so we started with Perfect Skin foundation by Irish company Fuschia, because it contains avocado oil and skin plumping properties. I used Catrice long wear concealer over the eyes to hide any veins and redness, and Urban Decay concealer to banish any dark circles under the eyes.
“I set it all with a Fuschia pressed mineral powder, before adding a Fuschia loose powder blush called “Glow” on the cheeks, starting on the apples and working up to the temples to give colour to the complexion. I kept the eyes very simple with a blend of autumnal brown shadows from a company called Makeup Geeks, a Catrice mascara and an eyebrow mascara from Billion Dollar Brows. Finally, we finished with two Fuschia lipsticks: Berrylicious for Sheila and Hugs and Kisses for Gretta.” CL
For further information, call 064-662-2513 or visit https://seantaaffe.com/
Reaction
Gretta: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I love the way that the girls from Paco co-ordinated the looks and I have lots of little hair and make-up tips I hope to take home with me. I have a North Cork co-op meeting tonight, so I think there will be a lot of heads turning!”
Sheila: “I am usually casual and before today would never have dreamt of wearing something like the sparkly shoes, but the clothes are extremely comfortable and apt for my lifestyle. I also enjoyed the make-up lesson and the simplified tips. When I get home, I have to walk my dogs Ruby and Susie… I’d say they’ll dance a jig when they’ll see me!”
Read more
Meet the stylish sister act at Standún, Spiddal
Dress for success - here's some inspiration
The deserving winner of our Women & Agriculture makeover was Gretta O’Leary, who lives on a dairy farm in Cecilstown near Mallow, Co Cork, with her husband Gus and also cares for her son Martin, who has special needs. This is her winning letter:
“I’m sure you will be inspired by many wonderful women at the conference. I would love to win this for my wonderful sister and myself. I have a very good husband, Gus, and seven children. My youngest son has special needs. He is 24-hour care. When he was born, I suppose fear for the future and how we would cope were a big thing. I was also feeling guilty I was the one who caused this. He arrived after five girls and we had such hopes and dreams for him like any new-born baby in a family. We struggled to cope. We had a very sick baby, but a determined young man. As the years moved on, he attended a day care centre and coming home at night. He has many friends now and is as a fine young man, he is very happy. Through all this, his dad had a quadruple bypass and seven stents done. I would love to win this prize as I don’t get much pamper time. I’ve no doubt I’ll have a few more journeys with them, but for now it’s time to love and enjoy what we have got.”
As part of her prize, Gretta invited her sister, Sheila Deady, to share her special day. A retired nurse, Sheila lives on a drystock farm near Banteer, Co Cork, with her husband Pat. She has also faced challenges in life, suffering a stroke 11 years ago, however, her positive attitude has gone a long way towards her recovery and living life to the full.
Fashion
Gretta and Sheila were styled by Paco: the Irish-owned company best known for its colourful designs, ranging from casual separates to more formal looks, available in sizes 10-22. Manager of Paco in Tralee, Eileen Whelan, explains why she chose these two looks for Gretta and Sheila: “These outfits are very practical and easy to put together to fit in with the ladies’ busy lifestyles, as I believe it is important to get value out of your clothes. I also chose pieces that could be mixed and matched easily. For instance, the tops could go just as well with a pair of trousers they might already have at home. Accessories like the colourful scarves pull the looks together and make them that bit dressier if meeting friends or going to town. It’s all about being comfortable but looking good and feeling good,” says Eileen.
For further information or to shop online, visit www.paco.ie
Look 1: Gretta O'Leary and Sheila Deady in their first look from Paco \ Donal O'Leary
Gretta
Eileen: “These Just Elegance trousers are high-waisted and very comfortable to wear, while the layered top is very flattering. The cream poncho is autumnal and versatile and the fox print scarf gives the look a pop of colour.”
Just Elegance high-waist trousers €36.95Just Elegance layered top €34.95Cream poncho €22.50Fox print scarf €9.95Necklace €12.95Bag €29Sheila
Eileen: “People are often afraid to wear jeggings, but the high-waist design means they are very comfortable and really flatter Sheila’s frame. The blue and pink print in the top is bright for winter, the grey fleece is easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion and the runners add a bit of sparkle!”
Paco fleece €45Paco jeggings €29.95Just Elegance top €24.95Runners €29.95Scarf €9.95
Look 2: Gretta O'Leary and Sheila Deady in their second look \ Donal O'Leary
Gretta
Eileen: “The minute we put this orange fleece on Gretta, the colour just popped on her. The jersey top and navy trousers are extremely comfortable and the scarf just pulls the whole look together.”
Just Elegance high-waist trousers €29.50Just Elegance striped top €32.95Paco fleece €39.95Scarf €9.95Bag €29Sheila
Eileen: “While Sheila would not usually wear a dress, the colours really suit her. While it can be easily worn on its own, the blue blazer and scarf just make it that bit dressier.”
Paco dress €36Paco jacket €36Scarf €9.95Hair & Make-Up
As part of their prize, Gretta and Sheila were also treated to a hair styling session and make-up lesson at Sean Taaffe Hair & Beauty in Killarney.
Style director Carleen O’Shea explained how she achieved the ladies’ look: “With Gretta, we graduated the back of her hair to add more depth and definition, then we lightened around the sides to give a more feathered, softer look around her face and added a fringe for framing. One of the products I used was Moroccan oil root boost, which gives amazing volume before blow drying to any hair type. This will be an easy style to maintain, as she can just wash and go and it will sit in place.
“Sheila only had her hair cut recently, so I just tidied about the ears and the nape of the neck to give a sharper, more polished look. We then blow-dried using the Moroccan oil root boost and we swept her fringe back off her face to show off her beautiful make-up. Once dry, I worked in a product called Alfaparf glossy pomade to give a more textured, defined finish with shine and hold.”
I love the way that the girls from Paco co-ordinated the looks and I have lots of little hair and make-up tips I hope to take home with me.
Make-up
Meanwhile, Michelle O’Connor, make-up artist and owner of the Vanity Case at Sean Taaffe’s, explained how she achieved a simple, natural look for both ladies.
“I wanted to teach the ladies an easy-to-use routine that they can do at home themselves, so we started with Perfect Skin foundation by Irish company Fuschia, because it contains avocado oil and skin plumping properties. I used Catrice long wear concealer over the eyes to hide any veins and redness, and Urban Decay concealer to banish any dark circles under the eyes.
“I set it all with a Fuschia pressed mineral powder, before adding a Fuschia loose powder blush called “Glow” on the cheeks, starting on the apples and working up to the temples to give colour to the complexion. I kept the eyes very simple with a blend of autumnal brown shadows from a company called Makeup Geeks, a Catrice mascara and an eyebrow mascara from Billion Dollar Brows. Finally, we finished with two Fuschia lipsticks: Berrylicious for Sheila and Hugs and Kisses for Gretta.” CL
For further information, call 064-662-2513 or visit https://seantaaffe.com/
Reaction
Gretta: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I love the way that the girls from Paco co-ordinated the looks and I have lots of little hair and make-up tips I hope to take home with me. I have a North Cork co-op meeting tonight, so I think there will be a lot of heads turning!”
Sheila: “I am usually casual and before today would never have dreamt of wearing something like the sparkly shoes, but the clothes are extremely comfortable and apt for my lifestyle. I also enjoyed the make-up lesson and the simplified tips. When I get home, I have to walk my dogs Ruby and Susie… I’d say they’ll dance a jig when they’ll see me!”
Read more
Meet the stylish sister act at Standún, Spiddal
Dress for success - here's some inspiration
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