Traffic For Electric Picnic

Full details for all travel to and from Electric Picnic can be found on their site right HERE

We have taken a small section of  their comprehensive travel directions and advice and added to it below.

Obviously if you leave early and get there early you will avoid any major delays, peak delays will take place between 3 and 8 PM on Friday and from 12 noon until 3 on Monday.

M7 - Southbound

Most traffic will exit the M7 at Ballydavis Interchange (Exit 16), cross to new Carlow Road (R.425) and on to Bloomfield Roundabout. All event traffic (except coaches, mini buses, camper vans and taxis) will continue straight at Bloomfield (R425) and on to Sheffield (R426), Lamberton Junction and Money Cross. Turn left at either Lamberton or Money Cross as directed by Garda on point duty and on to designated parking areas. Entry at Entrance C, for car park C and at Entrance B, for car park B

You can as many of us here on live drive do, continue on the road designated for buses, etc this will take you right into the middle of Stradbally Village.

If you are coming from Dublin you can always come off the M7 much earleir and head to Athy then to Carlow, this route often moves very well indeed.

N7 - Limerick

Most traffic will continue on M7 for Portlaoise at Junction 17, Togher interchange. Event traffic will proceed on Abbeyleix Road to Meelick Junction. Turn right onto Meelick Road, right to Timahoe Road and right to Sheffield where it will join event traffic from Bloomfield. Any coaches or camper vans on this route will continue on Money Cross, straight through junction and turn left at Timahoe Village and on to Gate 3 for entry.

We have found this route to be one of the heaviest to the event. You can also continue through Portlaoise. At the second R/A on your way into the town take the 2nd ecit and follow the sigsn to Stradbally/Carlow but this is a bit of a risk as a lot of traffic comes this way. 

You are almost better off heading to J16 and making your way to the festival on the camper van route.

M8 Cork

Most traffic will exit motorway at Junction 3 (M8) (Manor Stone Exit) and onto Ballacolla and Abbeyleix. Event traffic will travel through Ballacolla to Abbeyleix and turn left on the Main Street then turn right to Ballyroad. Any coaches and campervans will turn right at Money Cross to Timahoe and then left onto Gate 3 for entry. All other event traffic will continue straight at Money Cross onto designated parking.

You can of course get a train to Portlaoise then grab a Taxi out to Car Park Z or the shuttle bus that will be running from Portlaoise to the site. 

Thursday 29th August

Portlaoise Train Station - Electric Picnic 12:30pm-22:00pm (Every 30 minutes)

Friday 30th August

Portlaoise Train Station - Electric Picnic 07:30am-22:00pm (every 30 minutes)

Electric Picnic - Portlaoise Train Station 10:00am-03:00am
(every hour on the hour)

Saturday 31st August

Portlaoise Train Station - Electric Picnic 07:30am-22:00pm (every 30 minutes)


Sunday 1st September

Portlaoise Train Station - Electric Picnic 07:30am-22:00pm (every 30 minutes)

Electric Picnic - Portlaoise Train Station 07:00am-03:00am
(every hour on the hour)

Monday 2nd September

Electric Picnic - Portlaoise Train Station 06:00am-15:00pm
(every 30 minutes)

Bus and Coach

Bus Eireann will be operating a service from Dublin to the festival site operating from Friday 30th August - 1st September and return journeys from the festival site to Dublin operating from Saturday 31st August - Monday 2nd September . They will also be providing a service from Dublin Airport to the festival site on Friday 30th August at 2pm. Please see below for time table and prices.

From Custom house quay to Stradbally:

Friday 30th August 9am to 6pm, depart every 30min.

Friday only from Dublin Airport 2pm

From Custom house quay to Stradbally:
Saturday 31st August 10am 11am 12pm 1pm

From Custom house quay to Stradbally:

Sunday 1st September 10am 11am 12pm 1pm

From Stradbally to Dublin City:

Saturday 31st August 11pm 12am 1am
Sunday 1st September 9.30pm to 2am, depart every 30min.
Monday 2nd September 6am to 1.30om depart every 30min.

Prices

€29 return
€15 single

Marathon Coaches will also be operating a service to and from the festival over the weekend from Dublin. Pick up point include Stillorgan Flyover at UCD - Bus Stop and Georges Quay - Bus Stop (Outside Ulster Bank). For a full listing of departure times, prices and pick up locations please visit here

Disabled Persons Vehicles

An area has been specifically reserved for parking and camping for patrons suffering disabilities. This is located in the camper van parking area. Access is through Gate 3 on the Timahoe road and all persons with disability should be directed to Gate 2

Family Camping and Parking Vehicles

Access for patrons who have tickets for Family Camping and Parking is via the Timahoe Road Gate 5. Parking for such patrons is opposite Gate 5 in the G.A.A Centre.

Parking is free. There is no reserved V.I.P parking area

Mini buses wishing to stay on site will be able to park in general parking. If they are just wanting to drop off they should follow the normal pick/up drop off routes. Details for coach parking / pick up drop off should be as below. Sarah Cox will coordinate this.

Electric Picnic 2013 Staff Picks

Staff picks for this years E.P

Electric Picnic is but a fortnight away, we'll have traffic tips of all you next week, (Producer John is a local) but in the mean an time here's our picks for the best of this years festival.

Mr Neary

Mathew E White

Robert Plant Presents The Sensational Space Shifters

Braids

David Byrne and St Vincent

CHVRCHES

and John recons that David O'Doherty is now about a millions times funnier than ever before!

Hugh

David Byrne And St Vincent

Bjork

Little Green Cars

Johnny Marr

My Bloody Valentine

and for the great disgruntled and befuddled Dylan Moran

Producer John

No one ever listens to producer John so we stuck him in last, lets get weird.

Disclosure

Duckworth Lewis Method

The Walkmen

Warpaint

The Knife

Not the Teddy Bears Picnic, but the Electric Picnic!

Electric Picnic takes place this weekend at Stradbally Hall until Sunday. 35,000 people are expected to attend.

Most traffic can be expected this afternoon and this evening and also on Monday morning. Bear in mind, this year day tickets will be available on Sunday so traffic is likely to be busy throughout the weekend.

Gardaí are appealing to any motorists not attending the event to avoid the area and take an alternative route. There is no official closing time for campsite on Mondayso motorists are in no hurry to get on the road on Monday. Be sure it’s safe to drive before you take to the road.

ROAD CLOSURES:

The Abbeyleix Rd (R427) will be closed from Money Cross to Stradbally until 4am on Sunday and from 8am until 3pm on Monday. Access to Stradbally along this route will only be for residents and event traffic during these times.

HOW TO GET THERE:

From the M7 southbound approaching Stradbally, motorists should exit at J16 Portlaoise East to the Ballydavis Interchange and continue onto the Bloomfield R/A. All event traffic (with the exception of coaches, mini buses, camper vans and taxis) will go straight at the Bloomfield R/A.

From the M7 northbound motorists should exit at J17 Portlaoise Centre to the Togher Interchange. Event traffic will proceed on the Abbeyleix Rd to Meelick Jct, onto the Timahoe Rd and join other traffic at the Bloomfield R/A.

Travelling on the M8 Cork/Dublin Rd exit at J4 Urlingford and travel through Durrow, Abbeyleix and turn right to Ballyroan and onto Money Cross.

Portlaoise traffic will be directed onto the Knockmay Relief Rd, to the Clonminham Relief Rd and then on towards the Bloomfield R/A.

With the exception of coaches, mini buses, camper vans and taxis all traffic approaching Stradbally from Carlow/Athy will travel through Stradbally town to the Portlaoise Rd.

From Vicarstown divert at Garran’s Cross to the Athy Rd and continue through Stradbally.

CAR PARKS:

All car parks are free of charge and will be signposted. Car parks A, B and C can be accessed via the Abbeyleix Rd and have been open since this morning (Friday).

Camper van car parks will open at 7pm on Thursday and can be accessed via the Timahoe Rd (R426).

The car park for Family Camping ticket holders will be located at the GAA Pavilion, on the Timahoe Rd (R426).

Parking for day ticket holders (Sunday only) can use car park Z on the N80 Portlaoise Rd.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Buses:

Bus Éireann will provide a bus service to Electric Picnic from Custom House Quay in Dublin.

• Tonight, services will run from 10am to 6pm.
• On Saturday, they will run from 10am to 1pm.
• On Saturday, and Sunday return buses will run from 10pm to 1am and on Monday they will run from 6am to 2pm. Tickets cost €28 return.

Bus Éireann will also operate services to the festival from Cork and Galway as follows:

• Bus will depart from Cork Bus Station, Parnell Place at 10am on Friday and will depart from Stradbally, Co. Laois at midday on Monday.
• Bus will depart form Ceannt Station, Eyre Square in Galway at midday on Friday and the return service will depart from Stradbally, Co. Laois at 10am on Monday.

Kelly travel will also operate bus services to Electric Picnic as follows: On Friday services will depart from Limerick at 10am, Cork at 11am and from Galway at 11am.

• On Sunday services will also be available from Limerick, Cork and Galway at 9am.
• On Monday, return services will depart from Stradbally Hall from 1am.
• A designated drop off zone for taxis will be located on Main St (N80).

Train:

The nearest train station is Portlaoise station which is about a 15 minute drive from the festival site. For scheduled train services to Portlaoise click here.  Shuttle buses will operate from Portlaoise train station to the festival site. The times of the shuttle buses will correspond with incoming Irish Rail services.
Return shuttles are available on Monday from 8am until 1:30pm. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.