Oxegen festival expected to leave fans breathless

THOUSANDS of music fans battled through severe traffic delays in Co Kildare yesterday to reach Punchestown Racecourse for the beginning of this year’s Oxegen music festival.

Attracted by acts like Muse, Snow Patrol, the Killers and the Thrills, around 70,000 fans are attending both days of the music spectacular.

A further 10,000 have snapped up one-day tickets for the festival, which features more than 100 of the world’s top bands, singer-songwriters and DJs.

Yesterday drivers faced delays of an hour to get through Naas as revellers headed in cars, coaches and vans from across the country for the two-day event — undeterred by forecasts of heavy rain tomorrow.

At the festival revellers will drink their way through thousands of gallons of beers and hundreds of tonnes of fast-food and treats. Among the suppliers is organic meat processor Good Herdsmen, which has sent 16,000 beef burgers, weighing two tonnes, from its base in Cahir, Co Tipperary, to the festival for sale by Gourmet Burger.

John Purcell of Good Herdsmen: “At long last festival goers can look forward to an enjoyable food experience.

“It is a great sign of young people becoming aware of what they eat. Organic food has reached the masses.”

Yesterday the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and concert promoters MCD appealed to music fans leaving the festival by car to tell their drivers to slow down.

“Fans should stay within the speed limit, belt up and to be aware of the dangers of driving when tired and only drive while completely sober,” said RSA chief executive Noel Brett.

“Your life is in the hands of your driver so don’t be afraid or embarrassed to tell him or her to slow down or drive more carefully if you fear for your safety.”

During the weekend-long music festival the RSA will be beaming road safety messages on the screens beside the stages to encourage revellers to drive safely.

Last year Thomas Frewen, 22, from Kilworth, Co Cork, his sister Mary, 19, and driver Paul Geary, 21, from Mitchelstown, Co Cork, died on their way home when their car veered into the path of a lorry on the N8 between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix.

An inquest earlier this year heard Mr Geary had not slept before he drove home from the festival and had been drinking until 5am, although he was under the legal drink-drive limit.