The Vicarstown woman puts in a very busy weekend every year of the festival, working throughout the day in the salon and before moving lock, stock and barrel to the festival site.
A hair salon owner in the town for past six years but also a keen Picnic goer. Probably my favourite time of year as we just love the atmosphere in the salon.
2 – What’s your earliest Electric Picnic memory?
3 – What’s your favourite thing about the Picnic?
Definitely my favourite thing about the Picnic is the atmosphere it brings to Stradbally even in the weeks running up to it. All Picnic goers are so nice and never bring an ounce of trouble to our doors.
4 – What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen/experienced at the Picnic?
Most unusual thing I’ve experienced? Come on it’s the picnic. The whole thing is unusual!
5 – Describe your typical Electric Picnic weekend?
Get to work around 8.30am Friday to get a decent car space. Work until about 5.30pm. Then it’s Picnic ready but Friday is always a quiet night as I’m back in the salon early Saturday morning.
Work Saturday until about 4pm. Get Picnic ready again. Get some nice alcoholic beverages for the (Long) in. Usually meet my friends at the Salty Dog and finish our drinks and have a laugh and head into the main arena.
Try to be finished by 2am (which never happens) as someone always gets lost and we end up waiting at that “Big Tree” to the right of the main stage (everyone’s meeting point) and then it’s back in the salon again for 11am on a Sunday.
Sunday isn’t too bad as we do shifts on Sunday so all the staff do a three-hour shift. Then back up again to soak up the last of the atmosphere. By Monday my legs are aching from all the walking in and out but hey you’ve got to make hay while the sun shines.
6 – What one thing would you change about the Picnic if you could?
That walk in and out is definitely what I’d change. Surely there’s something could be done?!
7 – What are you most looking forward to this year?
Hudson Taylor playing and Bacardi cocktails from the Bacardi tent. Oh and a wok and roll at the end of the night as always.
8 – What’s the best act you’ve ever seen at the Picnic?
Without a doubt “The Killers” were the best act ever.
9 – Who’s the most famous person you’ve come across?
Never met anyone extremely famous. I’ve met a few Irish celebs like Rosanna Davidson, Claudine Keane, Al Porter, Paul Galvin and his wife Louise Duffy love the Picnic, I’ve seen Aoibeann Garrihy and Miriam O’Callaghan was outside the salon once.
10 – What advice would you give to Electric Picnic goers this year?
Don’t wear jumpsuits ladies (toilet situation), bring your own loo roll and never forget the hand sanitiser. Don’t wear jeans – a disaster to dry if it’s a wash out. Go see everything there is to offer (actually maybe not the rave in the woods, that can be the killer of all hangovers) and most importantly drop into CoCos for a festival hairstyle. Men and women – you got to get into the spirit of things after all.
