Oxegen success sees organisers breathe easy

THE massive clean-up operation required to clear Punchestown Racecourse after this year’s hugely successful Oxegen Festival turned out to be the only major hangover for organisers.

As the final festivalgoers tenderly made their way home yesterday afternoon the Gardaí publicly thanked the vast majority of well-behaved fans for their co-operation. They also paid tribute to the residents living in and around the Punchestown venue for their patience and co-operation.

That message was echoed by concert promoters, MCD, who also noted the assistance of Kildare County Council, the Civil Defence, Dublin Bus, the HSE, ambulance and fire services, site crews and Punchestown Racecourse.

Allan Shine, president of North Kildare Chamber of Commerce, also gave the event the thumbs up.

“North Kildare Chamber are delighted with the economic boost provided by Oxegen to Naas and North Kildare,” he said.

“We commend MCD Concerts, Naas Town Council and the Gardaí for the excellent organisation of the festival and are already looking forward to another successful festival in 2012.”

Despite the event not being completely sold-out, MCD also declared Oxegen a huge success and declared it would be returning next year for its ninth year.

Apart from a knife attack incident at one of the campsites in which five men were injured, the 80,000 people who attended the three-day event caused few headaches for the organisers of what has become one of Europe’s biggest music festivals.

The Gardaí also said they had arrested 90 people over the weekend — a significant reduction on the 129 arrests they made last year and the 114 in 2009.

The biggest number of incidents related to drug possession, with 28 people arrested on suspicion of sale or supply of drugs and a further 280 seizures from people in possession of drugs for their own use.

The on-site testing of samples introduced at the 2009 event was repeated this year on 252 seized samples, so further prosecutions may result.

Alcohol checks were carried out on 1,450 drivers breath-tested at the venue, resulting in 14 arrests for suspected drunken driving.

In addition, eight people were arrested in connection with assaults, 12 for thefts, three for other motoring offences and 21 for public order offences.

Traffic also flowed smoothly, according to a Garda statement. “The park and ride facility proved very successful and no significant traffic congestion was encountered.”