Electric? We had a gas time at the Picnic

The adults had as much fun as the kids at the superbly run EP, says Des O’Driscoll

Magic Moment: Here’s one of 40,000 different answers. Portishead may have been far better suited to one of the big tents rather than the main arena, but for something really special, their achingly beautiful live version of ‘Wandering Star’ would take some beating. As Beth Gibbons sent shivers down the spine with her haunting vocals, if you looked high above the stage, in the clear night sky over Co Laois, there was even a perfectly positioned you-know-what.

Big Buzz About: Metronomy, Jungle, Annie Mac, London Grammar. Beck. Hozier. Glass Animals. Foals.

Biggest disappointment: Far less than 40,000 answers to this, as so many people had such a brilliant time at the exceedingly well-run event. If we were to quibble with a performance, perhaps it’d be SBTRKT. The British electronic producer has magnificent tunes, but they really needed a vocalist front-and-centre to put some of them across in a live setting. It was also a shame that FKA Twigs (inset) had to cancel her Saturday performance due to a sore throat.

Best Vibes: The Body & Soul organisation have had plenty practice organising events for the slightly more mature festival set, and the New Age elements aren’t everybody’s cup of chai, but it would have been quite an achievement if you exited this area without having chatted to somebody really nice that you’d never met before.

Best Syrian Wedding Singer: Given the turmoil in Omar Souleyman’s homeland, you’d imagine he’s a man with a few things on his mind at the moment. But his Arabic and Kurdish songs, many given a modern dance twist, still managed to bring 45 minutes of joy.

Sitting Comfortably: Yes, there were some Armageddon moments, but the quantity, quality and organisation of the toilet areas was remarkable for a festival of this size. That said, we are still trying to work out if the fact that there was often a longer queue at the men’s showers than the women’s, is a sign of progress. or the beginning of the end of civilisation.

Face Off: A ‘source’ informs me there were fewer hairy faces than last year. Let the rejoicing begin – we’ve passed Peak Beard.

Best Pre-Picnic Tip: It’s not the most environmentally friendly, but a square metre of oil cloth is so cheap and portable, and can act as a picnic blanket, a seat on the grass, flooring at your tent door, a boudoir, etc, etc.

Child’s Play: There were over 1,000 of the little blighters at this year’s event, forcing parents to push them around in handcarts and sheepskin-lined wheelbarrows. Many of the grown-ups made the mistake of thinking the kids were at ‘our’ festival. But, given some of the living-in-the-moment and playground antics those biggies were getting up to, you realised that us adults had actually entered the children’s realm. And it really is a fun place to be.

Most impractical fashion: Sure, onesies look cosy and cute. But, seriously, trying to negotiate the logistics of a festival portaloo when NOTHING you’re wearing must touch ANYTHING? No thanks.