Rain expected to stay away for most of Oxegen festival

SUNSHINE AND showers are expected this afternoon for the first arrivals to the Oxegen festival at Punchestown racecourse in Co Kildare.

The weather is looking brighter for Saturday and Sunday with the possibility that both days could be completely dry and temperatures a pleasant 18 degrees.

Major reinforcement work has been undertaken to the campsites that will accommodate most of the 80,000 fans attending the event, which begins in earnest tomorrow evening.

New roads have been put around the campsites and through them to prevent a repeat of last year’s muddy conditions, which accompanied the bad weather. There is also a ban this year on cars driving on the grass.

A total of 5mm (a quarter of an inch) of rain fell on the site yesterday and similar amounts are expected today and tomorrow.

However, Met Éireann forecaster Eoin Sherlock said:

“East Leinster could miss the worst of the heavy showers tomorrow afternoon and we are talking something comparable on Friday.

“Saturday and Sunday should be relatively dry days. You might get a scattered shower in the afternoon, but that will be about it and it will feel quite warm.”

Soil saturation levels, which determine how much traffic the grounds around Punchestown can take, are at their maximum at present.

Traffic is likely to build up around the Punchestown course from mid-morning.

AA Roadwatch is advising motorists to avoid where possible the N7 near Naas and the N81.

“The normal weekend traffic volumes will increase dramatically and ordinary motorists are advised to avoid the main routes in the Naas area unless it is essential,” said Nicola Hudson of AA Roadwatch.

She said there would be heavy traffic after the concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with daytrippers making their way home.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency will be distributing 30,000 “Think Contraception” tins at the festival as part of its campaign to highlight the importance of using contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancies and protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Each “Think Contraception” tin contains a condom, sexual health information, an Oxegen site map and festival safety information.

“Think Contraception” tins will be distributed at campsite entrances tomorrow and will also be available from information and welfare tents across the site.