Electric Picnic clarifies speculation about this year's festival following reports it will go ahead
A report in the Irish Times had suggested this year's festival will go ahead "unless the Government tells us otherwise".
Electric Picnic has moved to clarify speculation about this year's festival after an article in The Irish Times suggested there were "strong reasons for optimism" that it would take place and that it would go ahead "unless the Government tells us otherwise"
The Irish Times article carries quotes from Brian McDermott, operator of event management company Fuel and cited as "one of the organisers of Electric Picnic", who suggested that the vaccine rollout in Ireland could be in a position by the first weekend in September which would allow the Stradbally festival to go ahead at the usual time.
"Given the conditions we are looking at in terms of vaccines, you would not be fully insane to say that it should go ahead," McDermott said.
"The only thing that will stop it going ahead as far as I can is what could be perceived as an overtly cautious approach by the Government."
On Monday morning, however, a statement was issued on the official Electric Picnic Twitter account in which it is clarified that the statements made are not made on behalf of Electric Picnic.
The statement adds that McDermott is not one of the organisers, that a request has been made for the article to be taken down and that, while organisers are hopeful that the festival will be allowed to go ahead, that it will be in the hands of the Irish government to decide.
1/ An article has appeared in the Irish Times this morning that makes statements on Melvin Benn’s behalf and appears as one of the event organisers is speaking on behalf of the Electric Picnic.
— Electric Picnic (@EPfestival) March 8, 2021
2/ The person being interviewed is not one of the organisers and his points are his points and we have asked for the article to be taken down.
— Electric Picnic (@EPfestival) March 8, 2021
3/ The Electric Picnic team remain hopeful that the vaccination roll out will be complete in sufficient time to allow the festival to go ahead obviously but remain in Government hands for that.
— Electric Picnic (@EPfestival) March 8, 2021
The provisional dates for Electric Picnic this year, should it be permitted to proceed at that time, are 3-5 September.
