Many first-time campers grappled with pegs, poles and frames yesterday as they pitched down at Punchestown racecourse, Co Kildare, for this weekend's Oxegen music festival.
The event, in its second year, hosts some of the biggest names in music. Californian rock band Green Day head tonight's line-up and Foo Fighters close the event tomorrow.
Up to 50,000 revellers are expected to camp out, with 20,000 others likely to use day passes. Weather in Kildare should be be "reasonably good", according to Gerry Scully of Met Éireann. Mr Scully predicted light winds, warm temperatures, and dry conditions "most, if not all of the time".
Most seemed unfazed by yesterday's cloudy skies. Simon McDonagh from Fermanagh said rain would "add to the experience", while Dundalk Leaving Cert student Emma Hennessy had packed sandals and wellies to cover all weather possibilities.
Clare Shelley had never been camping before and was concerned about pitching her tent. "I had a practice run with my dad earlier in the week, but it didn't go very well," she said.
Some performers have opted to camp in a specially designated area of the site. Several bands will fly off immediately to play in other music festivals this weekend.
Derry woman Diane Gallagher (23) was at the festival to see "everything beginning with a K": Keane, Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs.
A-level student Matthew Gallagher from Newry said: "It's the best line-up I've ever seen."
Music channel MTV will film the festival, to be broadcast across Europe at a later date.
Oxegen organisers have enlisted around 1,500 security staff for the weekend. Many more are employed operating bars, hot food stands and other facilities.
Parking stewards Mick Byrne and Phil Mahon, both from Naas, hope to catch US rapper Snoop Dogg. "Once we have the yellow jackets off we can enjoy ourselves," said Mr Byrne.
The campsite closes at midday on Monday. An organiser said many tents would be abandoned at the end of the festival, in an exodus he likened to "Napoleon's retreat from Moscow".