The organisers of a series of concerts in the Phoenix Park this week are taking additional steps to deal with sodden ground following near record levels of rainfall in recent days.
The Stone Roses, The Swedish House Mafia and Snow Patrol headline three nights of music in the Phoenix Park starting on Thursday.
The concerts have a capacity for 45,000 each night. The Stone Roses, the most eagerly awaited reunion of the year, have sold out their concert on Thursday night but there are tickets still available for The Swedish House Mafia on Saturday and Snow Patrol who are supported by Florence and the Machine on Sunday.
This is likely to be the last time Irish fans will see The Swedish House Mafia as the three DJs announced they are going their separate ways after this tour ends.
They are supported by Tinie Tempah, Snoop Doog and Calvin Harris.
There is no parking in the Phoenix Park for the shows. A shuttle bus will run from Custom House Quay into the site on the days of the events and patrons are encouraged to take public transport to Heuston Station which is a 20 minutes walk from the venue.
Private coaches will only be able to enter by the Chapelizod gate. Motorists accessing from the M50 have been told that there will be no access to the Park through the Ashtown Gate.
Event controller Louis Harte joked that they were in the middle of a “beautiful Irish summer”.
He advised fans to wear wellingtons. Mr Harte said they were working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to ensure the site was suitable for the concerts.
They are using a tool, called a shattermaster, to put fissures into the ground to encourage drainage.
They are also using a Vertidrain which is like a “garden spike on steroids”, he said.
The concert by Swedish House Mafia is only for fans over the age of 17 which will disappoint the band’s younger fans.
“We do quite a comprehensive risk profiling of the artists we bring in,” Mr Harte explained. “With that artist there is such a wide demographic and we want to tailor it to the core fans.”
