Oxygen and Electric picnic are Irelands two largest summer festivals attracting thousands of excited festival goers each year.
Heres a quick rundown...
Oxygen, Punchestown, Co Kildare July 9th-11th
'Boots Beers and Borrowed tents' some it up well
Oxygen is now Irelands largest festival attracting thousands of people every July. It is a three day camping festival but you can opt for a day ticket if camping isn’t you cup of tea. Even during our current recession people are still shelling out 100 to 250 euros for tickets. Oxygen generally attracts a younger age group (20 and under). Although a necessary experience, you’ll return from Oxygen exhausted and feeling like the dirt thats embedded into your skin will forever be tattooed there.
This festival is not for the super high maintenance, in fact many people I’ve talked to feel it is necessary to be in a state of constant intoxication to get through the ‘oxygen experience.’
As usual the line up for Oxygen 2010 is looking great with huge artists and bands such as Eminem, Muse, and the Black Eyed Peas headlining. Other newly famous and highly popular bands such as Florence and the Machine who performed live with Dizzee Rascle at the Brit awards 2010.
Oxygen in recent year has acquired a bad name for itself with underage teens advantage of being away from mum and dad by getting ‘locked’ and a little out of control. With tales of tents being set on fire and over priced fast food, it’s a surprise people so willingly fork out hundreds to attend this festival.
The general feed back I got was NOT TO CAMP! By all means get a three day ticket but stay in a near by B&B and get showers and proper sleep, it’ll be worth it when your wide awake enjoying the artists you came to see rather than accidently passed out in a random soiled tent.
If you want a full list of the line up and more information the website is www.oxygen.ie
Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co Laois September 3rd-5th
Electric Picnic is held at the very start of September as a last good bye to Summer. There is something for everyone at this three day family oriented festival. Children 12 and under get in free and other than that its over 18s so this keeps the binge drinking, which mars other festivals such as oxygen, to a minimum. The food at electric picnic is said to be fantastic with good quality and a great variety of choice.
I’m going to Electric Picnic for the 1st time this September and although the line up in my opinion is no where near as good as the oxygen line up I’m really looking forward to it. All the feed back I’ve got from friends and family who have gone has been overwhelmingly positive. Almost everybody described the atmosphere as being great. A friend of mine has been to Electric Picnic a total for four times and loved it each and every time, she said “You look around and everyone is just having a good time, there’s no drunken flights, there’s no pushing and shoving, everyone is just chilled and having a great time.”
The Irish Times published a festival guide on 27th March which covered Electric Picnic, the description backed what I’ve heard about the festival describing it as ‘one of the most relaxing open-air festival experiences on the circuit.’
This festival is not just about the music as it has many side events of literature, theatre and oxygen tents where one can get a shot of flavored oxygen (strawberry is highly recommended). Even if you don’t know any of the bands you’ll still love this festival for its atmosphere and charm!
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