ELECTRIC PICNIC fans endured long tailbacks and blustery conditions as the festival got under way in Stradbally, Co Laois, yesterday.
Wet conditions caused the closure of car parks on site and added to the usual delays.
Motorists from the south were diverted on towards the N7 Portlaoise bypass joining up with the Dublin and Limerick traffic.
As a result there was serious tailbacks of up to 15 km on the M7 getting on to the Bloomfield roundabout outside the town. AA Roadwatch estimated that concert-goers from Dublin were delayed by 3.5 hours.
An Electric Picnic spokesperson said most cars were in the car parks by 7.45pm, which compared “very favourably” with last year.
Car parks had been changed on Wednesday after 100 extra acres had to be hired because of the wet conditions.
Torrential rain in recent days, and some heavy showers yesterday, caused the site to become muddy in places.
An area between the main stage and the Electric Arena was also blocked off for a time because of mud. However, it dried up yesterday evening and better weather is promised today.
Children were very much in evidence at this year’s festival with an estimated 1,500 families on site.
Pat and Helen Hayes from Cork city took their three children to the festival for the first time. “This is the last of the summer wine for us,” said Pat. “We heard good things about the festival. It was something to do at the end of the summer holidays.”
Paul McGowan, who lives in Wicklow, took his four children who are aged between six and 11. He said: “This is my first festival since Lisdoonvarna. I’m taking my children for the memories. There was never anything like this around when we were kids.”
AA Roadwatch has warned the N7 will be busy again on Sunday as Tipperary and Kilkenny fans travel to the All-Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park.
Most All-Ireland traffic will travel towards Dublin on the Limerick/Dublin Road so this route is likely to be very congested, according to AA Roadwatch.
Iarnród Éireann will provide special services for supporters, with trains travelling from Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick Junction, Thurles and Waterford on Sunday. One of those services, the 9.10am train from Kilkenny, was booked out yesterday afternoon.
Iarnród Éireann has also updated its arrangements for commuters using services on the Dublin to Belfast line, following last month’s collapse of the viaduct at Malahide. From tomorrow, a revised train service will operate in both directions between Belfast and Drogheda with a direct bus connection between Drogheda and Dublin Connolly. Bus arrangements have also been updated on www.irishrail.ie
Shuttle buses and taxis will be operating between the Electric Picnic site at Stradbally and Portlaoise train station this weekend.
The Monaghan Rhythm and Blues Festival began yesterday and continues until tomorrow. In Dublin, the Fringe Festival opens today and will continue for two weeks. Close to 100 events will take place in more than 40 venues.
This will the last year of the Spiegeltent at the Fringe Festival and a string of shows have been planned at George’s Dock in the IFSC to mark its departure. The Bulmers Comedy Festival opens tomorrow in venues around Dublin and will run for three weeks.