A Guide to Festivals in Ireland

Festivals have long been part of Irish life: the Puck Fair in Killorgin, for example, has been going on for hundreds of years, while others such as the Fleadh Ceol and the Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna have been taking place for decades.

But in recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of music festivals in Ireland. About a decade ago, you could have counted the number of really good Irish music festivals with one hand. Today, there are numerous music festivals all over the country. And it's not just the tastes of indie and rock fans that have been catered for - although these are indeed spoiled for choice - all kinds of genres now have festivals in Ireland.

Electric Picnic September 4-6 Stradbally Co. Laois

This festival, which began in 2004, years, bills itself as the "boutique music festival." Electric Picnic is a real music lover's festival. More particularly, it's for music fans that are getting that little bit older, but who aren't prepared to eat nothing but half-cooked burgers for three days. This festival may attract an older crowd than its main rival, Oxegen (see below), but it's certainly every bit of fun: there have been some terrific acts that have played here over the years, such as Wilco and Arcade Fire.

The location, Stradbally in County Laois - less than a two hour drive from Dublin - is an almost ideal festival venue, replete with lush green, natural amphitheatre-type fields. The lineup for this year is particulaly strong: MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Basement Jax, Echo and the Bunneymen, and Lisa Hannigan are among the highlights.

This festival is also noteworthy for the pretty good camping arrangements (as festivals go) and the wide variety of food and drinks available, ideal for the more discerning festival-goer - think vegetarian wraps and mojitos, not soggy French fries and warm beer. Electric Picnic is also commendable for being one of the best organized - and certainly more eco-friendly - festivals in the country.

www.electricpicnic.ie

Oxegen July 10-12, Punchestown, County Kildare

Although this festival typically attracts a younger crowd than Electric Picnic, it always seems to boast a very strong line up. In recent years, it has attracted some negative publicity for excessive teenage drinking, and for alleged sexual assaults, although 2008's festival apparently went much smoother by comparison. Last year, this festival was extended to three days: acts who played headlined included MGMT, Interpol and Kings of Leon It takes place in the Punchestown Race Track, which is about a 30 minute drive from Dublin City Centre. (The festival organizers run plenty of bus services to and from Dublin.)

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