A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said that he is “currently in the UK on private time where such events are allowed.”
A photograph of Tánaiste Leo Varadkar attending a music festival in the UK on the same weekend Electric Picnic was scheduled to take place has been circulating online over the weekend.
The picture shows Varadkar at the Mighty Hoopla festival in London at Brockwell Park.
“Interesting that Leo Varadkar has come to a festival in the UK today while failing to commit to a plan for the Irish entertainment industry,” a disgruntled Twitter user penned while sharing the photo on Saturday. It was subsequently shared by many online, including Event Manager Buzz O’Neill-Maxwell, who accused the Tánaiste of having “zero shame”.
Ignores our calls to open up our entertainment industry, then fucks off to a festival in the UK.. @mightyhoopla . Zero shame @LeoVaradkar pic.twitter.com/AzzIgTefjB
— Buzz O'Neill-Maxwell (@buzzoneill) September 4, 2021
A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said that he is “currently in the UK on private time where such events are allowed.
“Festivals and concerts are permitted in Ireland from Monday. The Tánaiste is one of the strongest supporters of the events industry in Government.
“He supported Electric Picnic going ahead and helped secure the re-opening plan for concerts and other big events beginning on Monday with capacity limits and vaccination certificate moving to full capacity next month.
“The industry has received over €100 million in financial support from Government, not including EWSS and PUP.”
The Mighty Hoopla describes itself as “the UK’s most fabulous and inclusive music festival”.
Acts such as Alexandra Burke, Atomic Kitten, Raye and Sister Sledge are just a few of the performers that were headlining this year’s gig.
A Covid-19 Digital Cert or negative PCR or lateral flow test from 48 hours prior to the event was needed for people to attend the festival and masks were not necessary at the festival.
JOE has reached out to Electric Picnic organisers for comment.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
