FESTIVALS:You know the recession is having an effect on the festival sector at home when there are still tickets on sale for the big daddy of Irish three-day events. Not only that, but Oxegen promoters also came up with a "ticket deposit" wheeze this year for prospective festival-goers, giving them until the end of April to pay for their tickets. That kind of fan-friendly carry-on wasn't required in 2006 or 2007 because they couldn't sell the tickets fast enough. In 2009, though, it's not as easy as just putting the tickets on the Ticketmaster system.

Over the last number of summers, the number of festivals and artist-led outdoor shows in Ireland has been on the rise. From about 2003 onwards, it became hugely popular and fashionable to go outdoors in search of your live music kicks. In 2008, there were 74 such events nationwide.

There will be fewer this year. Some of this is down to the opening of the 02 in Dublin, which means shows which used to be held in big fields can now go indoors. For example, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen will be playing the 02 this year, whereas they played Malahide Castle and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham respectively last summer.

But right across Europe, many festivals are simply not going ahead again this year. Notable absentees from the Irish summer calender will include the Green Energy festival (which used to take over Dublin Castle for the May Bank Holiday weekend), Analog and the Farmleigh Affair, while many of the smaller festivals are uncertain at this point in time if they will be proceeding.

Festivals which rely on sponsorship or Arts Council funding in particular will also be scaled back as public and private investment in music is slashed.

Many of Ireland’s fields may well revert to agricultural use this summer.