Sun shines down on boutique revellers

SMILING revellers abandoned their raincoats as the sunlight-filled fields of Co Laois saw tens of thousands of music fans setting up home for the weekend at this year’s Electric Picnic festival.

Gardaí were also put on alert yesterday that ex-British prime minister Tony Blair might make a surprise appearance at the Stradbally site ahead of an interview on the Late Late Show.

Promoters of Ireland’s grandest boutique festival – the seventh year running – say they are hopeful its 32,000-plus tickets have nearly sold out.