AC/DC Punchestown

[paul_oshea]

Cant believe this hasn't been mentioned yet!

Anyway, unreal 3rd time to see them this year and have to say easily the best yet. They were really up for this, im assuming they prefer open air concerts, the rain didnt deter young angus from flying around the place either :D I knew a few going who wouldn't be Ac/dc fans or even rock fans but they all agreed on a great gig.

2 of the lads I was over with for the gig were english and they just couldn't get over the - lack of -organisation of the place(from queueing for buses, to terrible toilets to places to eat). It really does make you realise about Ireland and the Irish way. People don't give a sh1te, just make as much money and do as little as possible for it.

Thought the rain added big time to the gig, made it more surreal for me. Though I know a lot weren't happy with it!

[tetsujin1979]

organisation was supposed to have been another colossal fcuk up from MCD. Rant/discussion on boards.ie about it all here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055579147&page=19
I had been considering getting a ticket for the sunday at Oxegen, but after reading that, and my experience at Slane, there's no way I'm going to now.

[Schumi]

Absolutely brilliant gig, got well up towards the front of the non-wristband area. Complete chaos during Thunderstruck, I've never been as dirty or sweaty on my way home from a gig before. :D

The buses afterwards were a complete joke though, it was about 2:00 by the time we got on one. No organisation at all to the queues, just a huge mill of thousands of people squeezing into gaps in barriers, very little lighting on the way out either. I beleive it was a mess getting in too but we got there early with no problems.

[Jofspring]

Heard alot about the chaos there was getting in from the buses but from the red car park (mainly people that drove themselves) side there was no hassle getting in or out (for me anyway) and it was the same last year when i was up there. Just strolled in with no ques and was the same leaving. It just seems to be from the side the buses came in.

Great show though. A Class Act!

[RonnieB]

great show by acdc, as for the rest a ****ing joke. I saw better organisation in the holding areas in avonmore.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Ferdia McAnna had an article in todays Tribune (http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jul/05/ferdia-macanna/)that implied MCD were guilty of reckless endangerment of members of the paying public in the aftermath of the Punchestown concert. It was a very scary read that would make many think twice about attending any of their outdoor events and certainly rule out bringing minors (he'd his 12 year old son with him) ever again.

Quoting him ....
An hour and a half later, the queue hasn't budged. Few stewards in sight. No police. No announcements. No news about delays. No news about anything. People are fed up. The mood changes to anger.

Suddenly, the crowd at the far end breaks through the barriers and gallops for the buses. Now the crowd at the other end follows suit.

You and your son, along with thousands of others, are cut off, trapped inside a series of steel barriers. The crowd surges forward but there is nowhere to go. Where are the stewards? A group of them stands huddled together in a far field, as though this mess is now out of their hands.

Where are the police? Who's in charge here?

Someone unhooks a barrier and slips through. Others follow suit and now it's anarchy. People skip the queues. Barriers are pushed over.

Thousands dash for the buses. Some shout abuse at the few stewards who are still around. You struggle to keep your feet. You worry about your boy. Hold on tight. Keep your feet no matter what. Trip and fall, and you will get trampled.

That could easily have ended in tragedy.
They just shouldn't get the licences for these shows if they can't guarantee safety. In another article it was revealed their licence for Oxygen is conditional on them providing extra buses.

[paul_oshea]

its the irish way though isn't it make as much money as possible at as little expense or care, "arah sure fcuk them, they'll be alright" sorta attitude. Ive been to concerts in a good few countries and its only ireland this happens. But its not just MCDs fault, its transport, we have no proper rail facilities in ireland near these gigs, if we had, with shuttle services every 2-4 minutes after these events this would not be a problem. So whilst MCD are completely at fault for not handling the queues etc, at the end of the day a bus holding 91 passengers every 3 minutes is not going to get 50+ thousand back to dublin now is it? Transport is the problem and Ireland needs to move into the 21st century before a catastrophe of 19th century proportions occurs.

[Macy]

They could always just stop licencing events that don't have the necessary infrastructure, if they're incapable of putting in place a plan that works.

Besides, Punchestown must only be 5 miles or so (if even) from Naas/ Sallins Railway Station, so really no excuses for MCD on that front either.

[DaveyCakes]

its the irish way though isn't it make as much money as possible at as little expense or care, "arah sure fcuk them, they'll be alright" sorta attitude. Ive been to concerts in a good few countries and its only ireland this happens. But its not just MCDs fault, its transport, we have no proper rail facilities in ireland near these gigs, if we had, with shuttle services every 2-4 minutes after these events this would not be a problem. So whilst MCD are completely at fault for not handling the queues etc, at the end of the day a bus holding 91 passengers every 3 minutes is not going to get 50+ thousand back to dublin now is it? Transport is the problem and Ireland needs to move into the 21st century before a catastrophe of 19th century proportions occurs.

It is MCD's fault. They're the promoters, they're responsible for ensuring that the infrastructure is in place. I was at the infamous Eminem debacle at Punchestown a few years ago. Their "car parking" arrangements consisted of having a few barely literate and numerate goons standing at the entrance to a field, taking a fiver from every car and waving at the field when asked where to park...result: cars everywhere, 3 hours queue to get out.

Contrast that with Punchestown races: the same field, roped off into proper lanes, you're out in 20 minutes max.