UP TO 30,000 music fans are expected to descend on the Punchestown racecourse, Co Kildare, tomorrow as Oxegen 08 gets under way.
Although officially the three- day festival starts on Friday, some cover bands and side shows, including a cinema and a circus, are being laid on for those who come early.
Four- day camping passes will give fans access to the camp sites from when the gates open at noon tomorrow until Sunday evening. Fans who have bought three-day tickets and are looking for a fourth will be able to upgrade through Ticketmaster.
The rest of the 80,000 who have bought tickets for the festival will come, as usual, on Friday.
The headline act on Friday evening will be the Kings of Leon. Other major acts appearing at the festival include Amy Winehouse, REM and Rage Against The Machine.
The weather forecast is decidedly mixed though any conditions better than last year will be welcomed. According to Met Éireann forecaster Vincent O'Shea, there is a likelihood of torrential showers tomorrow afternoon and into the evening. Friday, too, is expected to be showery, but there will still be good spells of sun and Saturday could be dry all day, though Sunday looks showery.
The prospect of bad weather may account for the heavy demand for more upmarket camping facilities in the Green campsite which began last year.
Myhab, a tent concept made of recyclable material, a raised base and a locker, has sold out of its allocation for the festival of 73 tents. Myhab inventor James Dunlop said he was "pleasantly surprised" at how fast they sold out in their first appearance at an Irish festival. "Fans clearly want a degree of comfort," he said.
There is also reportedly strong demand for the yurts and teepees provided by another British company, Tangerine Fields.
Minister for Energy Éamon Ryan is expected to attend the festival on Friday and has given his endorsement to plans to make it carbon-free. That includes trying to make fans come by public transport, the use of recyclable materials and the Green campsite.
Scouting Ireland will be collecting sleeping bags on Monday to give to Focus Ireland, which is involved in combating homelessness.
Fans are again being encouraged to use the park-and- ride facilities at Goffs if they are coming from north of Naas and at Newhall for those coming from the south.
For those who wish to drive to Punchestown, there are two routes signposted either "Oxegen Red Route" for those with tickets to the red camping park or the "Oxegen Blue Route" for the blue camping site.
Those approaching the blue route from the north or the south should get off at junction 9 of the N7 and take the R445 and R410 to Punchestown. Those going to the red car park and campsite from the north should take the M50 to N81 to Blessington and the R411 to Punchestown. Those coming from the south should exit at junction 11 of the N7 and take the R413 from Athgarvan to Punchestown.
Under-17s must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 25 who will sign for and accept responsibility for that person.
