Final preparations are under way as revellers prepare to pitch tents for this weekend's sold-out Oxegen music festival at Punchestown racecourse in Co Kildare.
With 70,000 music fans expected to attend, AA Roadwatch has predicted long delays on key routes approaching Punchestown. Roadwatch controller Emma Caulfield warned that "normal weekend traffic volumes will increase dramatically". Traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on the main N7, M7 and N81 routes leading to the site.
Motorists are advised to avoid the Naas area unless travel is essential. AA Roadwatch and the Garda press office are encouraging people to travel to the festival by public transport.
Dublin Bus is operating a shuttle service to Punchestown from Parnell Square West. Buses will depart every 20 minutes from noon today. The last of those shuttles will leave the festival at noon on Monday.
Bus Éireann coaches will depart from Custom House Quay from 9.30am tomorrow and tickets can be pre-booked. Bus Éireann will also run shuttle buses between Naas and Punchestown, in both directions.
People driving to Oxegen using the M1, N2, N3 and N4 are advised to travel via the M50 and on to the N7. Traffic from the south-east can proceed via Carlow or Athy, through Kilcullen and on to the Naas Road. Cars from the south and southwest should travel via the N7, turning off for Kilcullen.
Gardaí have asked people collecting relatives and friends after the concerts on Saturday and Sunday to note that the facility will close at 11.30pm.
Five hundred construction workers have erected five stages for 80 acts at Punchestown, including Green Day, New Order and James Brown.
The festival campsite will open at 1pm today. Campers will be entertained by a "Lord of the Rings spectacular" on large cinema screens.
Campsite controller Noel McHale said there are no fears of a washout. "The weather forecast is good, the racetrack land is very well-drained and we have steel roadways in the soil to prevent it getting too mucky."
Gates to the main arena will open at 11am tomorrow.