The death of a 23-year-old man at the Electric Picnic in Co Laois was greeted with shock and sadness in his home community in Co Cork yesterday as the young man's family travelled to Portlaoise to bring his remains home.
John Paul Fitzgerald, Healy's Bridge, Carrigrohane, on the western outskirts of Cork city, died after he collapsed in front of the main stage while watching the Chemical Brothers perform at about 1.20am on Sunday.
Paramedics were called and Mr Fitzgerald was brought to the on-site medical centre before being transferred to Portlaoise General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Fr Dan Coakley, parish priest in Cloghroe, Co Cork, said the community was shocked.
"News only began filtering through this morning but it's very sad for his family, who are very well regarded in the area. It's so sad for them to think of him heading off for the weekend so full of life and to be coming back home to them like this. Our prayers are with them," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald is survived by his parents, Jim and Anne, and brother James. Cllr Tomas Ryan said: "The Fitzgeralds are lovely, quiet people and our sympathies are with them on this tragic and sudden death."
