Probably a highlight of the entire Irish summer was last weekends Electric Picnic, which saw over 32,000 revellers descend on the Crosby family’s Stradbally Hall estate in Co. Offaly. With the VIP area resembling a typical weekend night in Renards, there was no shortage of well-known faces among the crowds.
Event organiser John Reynolds made sporadic appearances, taking time out of his busy schedule to ensure that his guests were enjoying the festivities. Among those I spotted were Jonathan Rhys Myers, singer Paul Brady and broadcasters Dave Fanning and Ryan Tubridy.
As always Naoise Nunn’s Leviathan marquee, with its lively mix of debate and discussion, was a popular haunt. David McWilliams, Minister Eamon Ryan TD and writer Irvine Welsh were some of those in attendance, while publisher John Ryan paid a special visit from New York.
Meanwhile enjoying the cocktails over at the Bacardi B-Live VIP area were TV3’s Collette Fitzpatrick and her boyfriend Neil McDermot, Niall McCrudden, artist Darryn Lee and publisher Trevor White. The big after parties, however, continued at the luxurious Heritage Hotel in nearby Killenard where many of the performers were based.
Regularly topping the polls as the best music festival in Ireland (and Europe) Electric Picnic continues to go from strength to strength, just ask any of the 34,000 revellers.
