Philip Treacy (a Treacy quote which is often reproduced): Treacy had previously written a piece for "The Guardian" in May 2001 on what defines the "perfect hat". Treacy's hats are also associated with English royalty, with thirty–six worn at the 29 April 2011 Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, including the controversial fascinator style hat worn by Princess Beatrice of York. The so–called "pretzel hat" was auctioned for charity by Princess Beatrice on eBay for $130,000 (£80,100.01) on the 22 May 2011. Treacy felt the criticism regarding the "pretzel hat" was very extreme (the hat had its own Facebook page
Noel Treacy Some months after Fianna Fáil's return to power in 1997 Treacy became Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education and Science replacing Michael Smith who had been promoted to cabinet following the resignation of Ray Burke. Following re-election in 2002 he became Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture. He contested the 1999 European Parliament election in Connacht–Ulster unsuccessfully. Following Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's cabinet reshuffle in September 2004, Treacy was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the