Electric Picnic organiser confident festival will go ahead in September

Managing directer of Festival Republic Melvin Benn said 'let’s be 100% clear here, nobody’s told me I can’t go ahead'

Elbow perform on the main stage during day three of the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, County Laois (Niall Carson/PA)

The organiser of Ireland’s largest music festival, Electric Picnic, has expressed confidence that it will get the go-ahead this year.

Managing director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn said he based his optimism on the fact no one in Government had told him the event in Stradbally, Co Laois would not be allowed.