WARM, SULTRY sunshine and long tailbacks greeted the first arrivals to the Electric Picnic which got under way at Stradbally, Co Laois, yesterday afternoon.
It proved to be an eventful first day when a burst water main outside Portlaoise compounded a snarl-up on the M7 which, at one stage, stretched from junction 6 of the motorway at Castlebaldwin to the Portlaoise turn-off.
There was also long tailbacks in Athy and Monasterevin as fans made their way on site.
However, the organisers said the traffic management plan was a success with 29,000 of the 32,000 festival-goers on site by 6pm yesterday evening, most heeding the calls to come early.
Entry to the main arena site was delayed for about an hour to allow for security clearance for everyone early yesterday afternoon.
"I was amongst a group of people who had to line-up for ages to get in," said Marlo Spikin (27), an Australian who lives in Galway city and was looking forward to last night's headline act Sigur Ros and also Goldfrapp. "We just waited and passed the time talking about the line-up. I think it feels like a really joyful festival".
The Temple of Truth, an ornate structure made of plywood which is dedicated to victims of suicide, proved to be a poignant attraction with hundreds of fans taking up the invitation to write the name of people dear to them on it.
The inscriptions will remain on the temple until it is burnt to the ground on Sunday evening.
An exhibition of work by homeless people was launched yesterday evening by the Depaul Trust which helps homeless people in Dublin. It is hoped that the exhibition will raise awareness among festival-goers, not just of the problems, but also of the creativity of many homeless people.
The extended Body and Soul area with its myriad of therapists and chill-out areas, proved again to be a perennial favourite with fans. Some of the earliest arrivals made use of the sauna. At 10am revellers were queuing to enter the strange-looking structure made out of a Yurt covered in canvas which was heated by logs.
Though far, literally and metaphorically, from the musical action the walled garden with its extended play area was popular with both parents and their children.
The festival has become more child-orientated and the family campsite sold-out. Soul Kids provided felt-making workshops, a puppet show and even a Global Kids workshop on global warming, the festival this year having a particularly green theme. "It is really, really well-organised. They have thought of everything. There is a sense of security and safety," said Conor Graham from Kildare who is at the festival with his wife Bethan and their two sets of twins, Martha and Arlo (7) and Thom and Eliza (4).
"I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be taking children to a music festival, but I'd definitely recommend it".
The music got under way on the main stage with the Yard Dogs at around 3.15pm.
Balladeer Christy Moore showed that he remains a huge draw when he packed out the Crawdaddy Stage while Sigur Ros, the Icelandic group and probably the most unlikely headline act, lived up to their billing with a set which attracted the biggest attendance of the festival to date.
The Ticket goes to the Picnic
A special issue of The Ticket, The Irish Timesentertainment guide, will be published on site at the Electric Picnic today and tomorrow and can also be found at www.irishtimes.com