WITH 35,000 people heading to Stradbally in Co Laois for the Electric Picnic festival today, men and women are being encouraged to stay safe over the next three days.

Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol, drinkaware.ie is reminding festival-goers to ‘remember the morning after’ when it comes to driving home on Monday.

It says that it takes your body roughly one hour to get rid of one standard drink – that’s one hour for a half a pint, or a small glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits, and two hours for a pint to be eliminated from your body.

Said Drinkaware:

For those drinking over the weekend it is important to remember that even a small amount of alcohol in your system coupled with fatigue will seriously affect your ability to drive safely. The secret to sobering up is time – no amount of coffee, energy drinks, cold showers or breakfast rolls will speed up the process. You might feel better but it doesn’t mean you are fit to drive.

Drinkaware’s Electric Picnic Festival Survival Guide is available online here.

It also recommended having water between alcoholic drinks and not drink on an empty stomach.

Transport and parking

The full details of transport for Electric Picnic have been released:

• Camper Van Parking: From 7pm yesterday
• All other parking: From 9am this morning
• Dublin (Custom House Quay) – Electric Picnic service operating from Fri 30 – Sat 31. Friday service departs every 30 minutes. Saturday – service at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm

Electric Picnic – Dublin (Custom House Quay) service operating from Saturday 31 – Mon 2 Sept.

• Saturday – service departs at 11pm, 12am and 1am
• Sunday – service departs every 30 minutes between 9.30pm and 2am
• Monday – service departs every 30 minutes between 6am to 1.30pm
• Prices:€29 return, €15 single

Marathon Coaches

• Service operating over weekend – pick-up at UCD flyover, Stillorgan and Ulster Bank, Georges Quay.

Irish Rail

• Hourly service between Dublin Heuston and Portlaoise, with a shuttle bus from Portlaoise to Electric Picnic.
• Today (Friday): Bus operating from station to Electric Picnic every 30 mins between 7.30am-11am and from Electric Picnic to Portlaoise every 30 mins from 12.30am to 3am.
• Saturday and  Sunday – bus operating from Portlaoise Station to Electric Picnic every 30 minutes between 7.30am -11pm and from Electric Picnic to Portlaoise every 30 minutes from 12.30am to 3am.
• Monday: Bus operating from Electric Picnic to Portlaoise every 30 minutes between 6am-3pm and from Electric Picnic to Georges Quay at 2am and 12pm.

Stay safe

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said that they have devised ‘stay safe’ tips for those attending the Electric Picnic.

They are also encouraging people to visit their colleagues in the main arena of the festival from the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, in a tent called 30,000 reasons.

Staying Safe Tips

• Look out for each other. Do not get separated from your group.
• Don’t drink to excess, and keep your drink in your hand at all times. Do not accept a drink from someone you have just met.
• Ask a friend to mind your drink if you have to leave.
• Stay where there are lots of people.
• Nominate a Designated Minder for each group of six. Share taxis and lifts.
• If you have to travel alone, make sure you phone ahead to where you are going and in the hearing of the driver and give your estimated time of arrival.
• Make sure your mobile is charged at all times.
• Be aware that having sexual intercourse with a person without their consent constitutes rape.
• A person who is drunk cannot give informed consent. The age of consent for sexual intercourse in Ireland is 17 years.

They also encourage you to put the National 24 hour helpline number – 1 800 77 88 88 – into your phone, and to report any crime to the gardai (if you wish) and seek medical help.

“Think of the consequences before sharing a picture or a video on social media,” advises the DRCC, which offers help and advice to women and men.

In the event of a rape or sexual assault:

• Call the National 24 hour Helpline if you need the help of a Rape Crisis Centre for a recent rape or childhood sexual abuse.
• If you are a family member or a friend and don’t know what to do when someone close to you has disclosed that they have been raped or sexually assaulted, call this number and you will get the help you need.
• Contact your parents or guardian or a friend.
• You may choose to report the incident to the Gardaí.
• Get the medical support you need.

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