It’s the biggest arts and music festival not just in the midlands, but in Ireland, and Westmeath was exceptionally well represented at the sold out event, which attracted 41,000 festival-goers to Stradbally in Co Laois last weekend.
Among the many thousand performers, staff and festival personnel were hundreds from Westmeath, with bands, artists, writers, and more all playing their part in making the biggest Electric Picnic yet a hugely successful one. Hundreds if not thousands from the Lake County were in the audience too at the three day festival, which is in its eleventh year.
Among those taking to some of the 42 stages were some of the leading musical lights in the county.
Cronin performed twice, and at one of their gigs on the Salty Dog stage on Sunday night they were joined for a number of songs by legendary Pogues singer Shane MacGowan as well as members of The Strypes and BP Fallon. MacGowan has recently recorded with Cronin and they drew a massive crowd to the outdoor stage for the surprise set.
Another band playing twice were White Chalk, who entertained the crowds and won many new fans at both the main stage in the new Trailer Park ‘enclave’ at the festival, and also on the Oxjam stage.
Fast-rising Mullingar band The Academic were on early in one of the main festival marquees on Saturday but that did not deter a four-figure crowd turning up to see them. the band were in demand afterwards, performing on RTE TV and radio.
Former RTE radio star Hector Ó hEochagáin joined Topic’s Ronan Casey for a lively ‘Medium-Sized Town, Fairly Big Story’ live show in the Mindfield area on Sunday afternoon. A capacity crowd saw the pair discussing some humourous stories from Ireland’s local newspapers, including some from the Topic! Ronan is releasing a book of the same name in October and Today FM caught up with the pair after their well-received show.
Owning the stage in the Mindfield area was Mullingar poet Marty Mulligan. He has been programming the Mindfield area since the very first Electric Picnic when it was only a single marquee. Now a 12 stage area, it is a central component of the festival, and Marty was delighted with how the weekend went.
“We had hundreds of acts on all our stages, and it’s safe to say everyone went down a storm. It’s been the busiest Electric Picnic yet for the Mindfield team, and the crowds were massive all weekend. We’re delighted,” the man from Mullingar told Topic.
Marty always ensures a big Westmeath presence in the area, on stage and behind the scenes. Local artists helped with the design of the area, and key sound and lights were done by stage personnel. Among those entertaining the crowds were bands Ska’s Good Gravy, Arrow in the Sky, Good Man Sheila, trad players Paul Taaffe and Johnny Owens and many more besides. Elsewhere in Mindfield, writer Manchán Magan and Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin hosted packed debates.
Julian Cope, musician, writer and historian from Liverpool mentioned the Hill of Uisneach during his Literary stage appearance, which pleased Uisneach owner David Clarke who was attending the festival.
Making her third appearance at the festival was Mullingar starlet Ashley Tubridy. She played a number of concerts and was busy all weekend interviewing bands and being interviewed herself.
Moate artist Patsy Preston and Rathowen sculptor Paul Rogan were among the many artists who had spent weeks perfecting art installations for the festival. Paul’s impressive wicker and willow piece greeted entrants to the Body & Soul arena, whilst Patsy’s Steampunk Time Machine was enjoyed by thousands of revellers.
Among those self same revellers were hundreds from Westmeath. Ivan Cahill, originally from Irishtown, Mullingar now living in Kilkenny told Topic he hasn’t missed an Electric Picnic yet and he was there with a big crew from Mullingar taking in all the sights across the 600 acre festival site.
Bringing the family to their fifth Electric Picnic was local couple Paul Aherne and Helen Hassett. Their three children have been going to the event from when they were babies, and once again they enjoyed a terrific weekend.