Ireland’s first music festival for 16 months has secured a liquor licence after a judge was given a detailed account of measures taken by organisers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at the event.
These gigs will take place at Kilmainham Royal Hospital, Dublin on Saturday July 3.
This is also one of the pilot events in the return of live entertainment. This sector has been shut since the pandemic began.
The event is being organised by MCD in association with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works are also organising the festival.
Licence granted
Yesterday, MCD submitted an application to Dublin District Court for an occasional licence to serve alcohol. 3,500 people will be allowed to attend this event.
Hosted by the 2 Johnnies, the show’s line up is expected to include the likes of Sharon Shannon, Gavin James, Wild Youth, Denise Chalia and Wyvern Lingo.
Judge Marie Quirke was told that the event would run from 2pm to 10pm.
Safety Measures Put In Place For Festival
Organisers also said that a number of Covid safety measures will be put in place.
Covid complience officer, Margaret Connolly also supplied detailed evidence of the planning for the festival. Event controller Eamonn Fox and Ashlee Dickinson will be in charge of the bars about the precautionary measures in place.
They explained how the event would comply with public health guidelines and encourage social distancing.
Ticket holders will receive an antigen covid test in a nearby location. Once they are negative, they can enter the event.
Hand sanitisers will be available at the toilets, while signs will be place on both entrances telling them to wear masks.
Tickets will also be sold in pods of up to four or six people.
Staff have also been trained to monitor crowds in isolation. If an attendee displays any Covid symptoms, they will receive medical attention or be sent home. People have also been urged not to attend the gig if they display any covid symptoms beforehand. They added that their tickets are refundable.
There will be 3,500 ticket holders present, in a 23,000 capacity.
The venue will be split into four areas, each with their own toilet area and bar.
Local residents will also be sent a newsletter, detailing the arrangements, while security has also been doubled.
“Total clarity”
Judge Marie Quirke said in court, attendees for this festival will get an information booklet with the rules to ensure “total clarity”.
This will also be the first music event taking place in Ireland to serve alcohol. James Vincent McMorrrow’s gig at Iveagh Gardens infront of 500 people did not serve alcohol.
More here.
Judge Quirke said that this was the beginning of the return of music events. She also wished them good fortune.
Minister of Tourism Catherine Martin said that this festival “marks a significant step forward towards larger gigs in the coming months, subject to the public-health situation”.
Five hundred tickets were also set aside for healthcare workers “as a gesture of thanks for their hard work and dedication during the pandemic”.
I'm determined to see live performance recover & reopen safely
The purpose of these pilot events is to establish confidence in protocols developed for the sector
Using antigen tests will allow us to consider them as a means of gaining entry to live events as we begin reopening pic.twitter.com/L5n47bZo1l
— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) June 22, 2021
