Residents of the south Dublin enclaves of Ballinteer, Rathfarnham and Dundrum have repeated their concerns about the level of disruption they face as a result of the three-day Longitude Festival taking place in Marlay Park next weekend.
The Rathfarnham park, which played host to Kodaline on Friday night and the Stone Roses on Saturday night, is now gearing up for a second weekend of rock and roll and local residents have expressed dismay about the level of anticipated drunkenness as well as disruption caused by the building and dismantling of stages for the events.
Despite 2,500 local residents signing a South Dublin Protect Our Parks (SDPOP) petition last year calling for an end to large-scale commercial concerts in the suburban park, the concerts have been given the green light.
"The summer months, when the weather is warmer and children are on their school holidays, are naturally the busiest for any suburban park," said SDPOP chairman Brian Murphy. "But in Marlay preparations for the concerts get underway at least a week before the first concert and anyone trying to enjoy the park risks facing machinery hurtling past them on the paths; the main car park and large parts of the park are completely closed off for three weeks at the height of each summer."
He complained that sound checks at full volume begin on the morning of each concert and concertgoers arrive from before midday. “Many of them are under 18 and yet huge numbers can be seen openly drinking from cans or plastic glasses as they pour into the area. Many of them are already ‘out of it’ when they arrive.”
Earlier this summer the courts rejected a bid by locals to ban the sale of alcohol at the Stone Roses and Kodaline concerts as well as the Longitude music festival.
“Locals fear going about their everyday business as they have to face hordes of drunken youngsters as they try and make their way to the local shops,” Mr Murphy said.
He complained that people more than a kilometre away could hear the music and, even with windows and doors tight shut, could “hear the drumbeat and feel the accompanying vibrations.
He also claimed the SDPOP was “hugely concerned about the impact on the environment. The park is home to foxes, squirrels and bats as well as a wide range of birds, including protected species, like the little grebe. Dozens of trees were cut down in 2013 to make space for bars and dance floors during Longitude.”
