It didn't rain like last time (until a shower at the very end) and the site never threatened to turn into a quagmire, but the two-day Witnness rock festival 2003, which concluded at Punchestown racecourse last night, was otherwise a carbon copy of its predecessors, writes Edward Power.
The bands, all 100 of them, inspired and underwhelmed in roughly equal proportions. Queuing for a beer seemed to take about six hours. And the portaloos were frankly terrifying.
Although only four-years-old, Witnness has the air of a perennial summer fixture. For the estimated 45,000 who descended on Punchestown, it surely felt less like a riot of excess than a knees-up with an old friend.
Following the late cancellation of Detroit rockers The White Stripes, this was arguably the weakest Witnness line-up yet.
But the balmy sunshine and general absence of the traffic chaos that blighted 2002's festival were adequate compensation.
The decision to relocate from Fairyhouse racecourse, Co Meath, was vindicated as the weekend proceeded with scarcely a hitch. Even the greasy snacks served by a flotilla of chip vans and noodle stalls seemed to taste better than last year.
With weekend tickets starting at €109 and some stalls charging €7 for a chicken burger, Witnness wasn't easy on the pocket, which may explain a slightly older-than-expected crowd.
Security was strict - but not enough to stop the determined smuggling significant quantities of cheap lager onto the site.
While headliners Coldplay and David Gray delivered competent, if slightly predictable sets, the most compelling entertainment was to be found in the margins. As ever, the best acts seemed to be scheduled at the same time, obliging hardcore music anoraks to dash frantically between all five stages as though competing in some bizarre relay race.
Mitigating against this pillar-to-post strategy was the sprawling site.
Nipping from the main stage to the "Witnness Rising" tent was a cinch but the trek across the racecourse to the Witnness Up Stage and Dance Stage felt like a Himalayan hike.
It didn't help that the dance "tent" was concealed within a large, anonymous shed.
Nor was the decision to erect the Up Stage at one end of a car park conducive to a memorable atmosphere.
Saturday's highlights included rejuvenated former A House frontman David Couse, cheeky Birmingham rappers The Streets and hotly tipped Danish garage band the Raveonettes - although the sweaty young men in the audience seemed more dazzled by the group's statuesque blonde bassist than by their sugary punk-pop.
Despite the absence of the White Stripes, yesterday overflowed with eclectic treats; from the gentle psychedelia of Super Furry Animals to Ladytron's icy techno and the Warlock's searing drone-rock.
A last-minute replacement for the White Stripes, Dublin singer-songwriter David Kitt must be wondering why he wasn't invited in the first place.
Of course, music is merely a distraction for those going to Witnness solely to stoke disbelief and set jaws dropping.
This reporter spotted at least four men dressed as Arabian sheikhs, three women wearing nothing but bright furry bikinis, and two halves of a pantomime cow, pogoing incrongrously to the Streets.
The mild weather also guaranteed a steady parade of topless overweight men - enough to make you yearn for a sudden plunge in temperature.
And if the portaloos and shirtless hordes weren't frightening enough, a funfair had been provided.
It was difficult to tell if patrons were screaming or laughing as they hurled about on a variety of rides that presumably looked far more dangerous than they actually were.
Some familiar questions will have played on the minds of veteran festival goers.
Can inflatable furniture really be good for your posture? Why were bottle caps confiscated? Is it reasonable to charge €5 for a pint of beer?
Such quandaries were probably lost on the majority.
For most, Witnness 2003 was an unmitigated triumph. Sunshine or not, you can bet they'll be back next year.