Music fans and revellers getting ready to brave the elements in Punchestown this weekend have been advised by gardai and the Oxegen organisers to use public transport when attending the three-day music festival.
Bad weather failed to dampen spirits at last year's Oxegen festival. Image: Dara Mac Donaill.
A less than favourable weather forecast has prompted MCD to highlight the park and ride facilities servicing the festival site that will accommodate approximately 80,000 people.
Lobby group, Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (Meas), has joined with MCD in producing a Festival Survival Guide to advise fans on what to bring.
Tickets are apparently top of the list of things to take if one wants to avoid heartbreaking embarrassment. Cash, a mobile phone and somewhere to keep them safe are also advised. As festival-goers are all too aware, other essentials include toilet roll, wellies and water proofs.
"We hope that everyone planning to go to Oxegen this weekend will download their copy of the Festival Survival Guide before they go, or pick one up at the various locations throughout the site," said Fionnuala Sheehan, chief executive of Meas.
The guide will be available on transport to the festival as well as from Oxegen Information Officers in the arena. It can also be downloaded at www.drinkaware.ie.
Gardai have today announced directions and diversions for those who are intent on driving.
All traffic from the M1, N2, N3 and N4 will travel from the M50 on to the N7 (Naas Road) to Naas where the road to Blessington marks the final stretch.
Travelling from south Dublin will can go via the N81 (Tallaght/Blessington Road) to Ballymore Eustace and on to the site.
People from the south-east are urged to approach via the Carlow or Athy routes through Kilcullen and onto the Naas Rd. At Raffertys Mill a right turn will point punters in the direction of the site.
Buses will operate on a one-way route and will arrive from the Blessington Road / Beggars End route and will exit via the Ballymore / Watch House Cross route.
There is also good news for those who simply cannot face packing up that tent at on Monday. MCD are encouraging people to leave their tents behind to be recycled for charity.
This was an initiative spearheaded at Glastonbury last month which resulted in 10,000 tents being left to the Save Darfur Campaign.
It is also hoped that this help avoid a repeat of incidents last year, when 23 tents were burned by people leaving them behind.