IT WAS a case of so far so good for promoter MCD and gardaí at the Oxegen Festival at Punchestown, Co Kildare, last night, with the deluge of rain which marred last year's event not repeated.
Gardaí said last night that 57,834 ticket-holders had arrived and the weather forecast for the rest of the weekend was looking good for revellers at Ireland's biggest annual music festival.
Met Éireann last night said that a few scattered showers may emerge today, but there would be good dry periods with bright spells and temperatures between 15 and 19 degrees. It predicted that tomorrow would be dry and rather warm for the best part.
There is a strong Garda presence at Oxegen and Insp Patsy Glennon of Naas Garda station said: "The crowd has been well behaved bar a few minor incidents."
Gardaí said last night that a juvenile arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault in the staff camping area at the festival in the early hours of yesterday morning had been released from custody. The assault involved two people working at the festival and a file on the incident was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, gardaí said.
Insp Glennon said there were 102 drug seizures, most of which had been cannabis and ecstasy. A further 12 people had been questioned under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, suspected of selling illegal substances.
Although 65 per cent of festivalgoers had used public transport, MCD announced yesterday that the venue's blue car park was full. Fans arriving today with blue campsite passes have been advised to use the two free park and ride facilities at Goffs, situated just off junction 8 of the N7 or junction 10 of the M7.