'No reason' Electric Picnic can't go ahead in August

Smash Hits perform on the Electric Ireland Throwback Stage during day three of Electric Picnic 2019 at Stradbally in Laois. Picture: by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Denis Desmond, managing director of MCD Productions, said Ireland can’t have a second summer without something to look forward to.

Mr Desmond was speaking as news of the cancellation of the 2021 Longitude festival was confirmed.

The Festival, which was due to be headlined by Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, and Megan Thee Stallion, was called off due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland Mr Desmond said: “We have to save at least part of our summer this year.” 

Megan Thee Stallion was set to headline this year's Longitude festival 

He said he also hopes other outdoor events go ahead this year like the National Ploughing Championships, marathons and other sporting events.

“People need to do something," he said.

He added: “At the same time if we could see the All-Ireland final at full capacity - huge result.” 

Organisers are also hopeful that Electric Picnic will go ahead in September of this year.

Festival Republic director, Melvin Benn, said he sees no reason why the event in Stradbally, Co Laois shouldn’t go ahead.

Crowds at a music festival in Sefton Park in Liverpool as part of the national Events Research Programme (ERP). 

Mr Benn said he sees “no reason” why the Irish Government wouldn’t be saying “you’ll be back to normal by August.” 

In the UK, Mr Benn was one of the organisers of the Sefton Park gig in Liverpool.

Attendees were tested before the event for Covid-19 and once they were clear they were able to attend the gig.

They were then tested five days later, and Mr Benn said the results for the event look “really positive at this point.” 

He said: "It felt incredibly safe it felt incredibly normal, you know, you were able to chat to people and you were able to hug them.” 

"It felt like you were in 2019, pre-Covid."

Mr Desmond said that Europe is about "five weeks behind" the UK who have already started hosting test events, but hopes Ireland will be in a similar position in mid-June.

"I think next week they open up in the UK 50% capacity to a maximum of 1000 people, ideally we should be looking into something like that, probably mid-June.” 

Mr Desmond also said MCD’s target is to push ahead with the two sold-out Westlife gigs in Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh in August.

He said: "There are 70,000 tickets sold. That would be my target, I'd be very happy if we get that done.”