Dearth of Laois businesses at Electric Picnic branded a 'travesty'

Failing to include local businesses as a licensing requirement for the Electric Picnic was branded “a travesty” in a submission to Laois County Council.    

A planning application for a licence to hold the Electric Picnic in Stradbally has so far attracted three public submissions of a similar nature on the subject.

Laois County Council is hosting the public consultation and accepting submissions from members of the public as part of the licensing application process for E P Republic to hold the outdoor event at Stradbally Hall Estate in Laois from August 29 to 31, 2025.  

The first of the three submissions was made by Michael Breen under the title, Support Local Business. 

“The travesty that is the lack of support for local food and drinks businesses at Electric Picnic has gone on for far too long and I strongly believe Laois County Council should be ashamed of not doing more to help these businesses out by doing what your neighbours and colleagues in Kildare County Council have done and insist on any events organized and given planning permission in the county see 5% of sales are given to small businesses as part of the deal,” stated Mr Breen. 

“It's capitalist greed at its finest not to do so and the council should be ashamed for allowing this incredibly unfair and unjust scenario to play out on an annual basis. Grow a back bone and do the right thing this year,” he concluded. 

Those sentiments were echoed in a brief submission by Linda Loughnane. 

She said: “The organisers should be compelled by the planning permission to support local producers and providers. Do what is right and support local businesses.” 

Maurice Lynch also made a submission to Laois County Council. 

He said: “I have attended a lot of Electric Picnics over the years and love it. Over the last few years I have attended the Forest Fest in Emo. On reflection Forest Fest supports local Laois businesses why can't Electric Picnic, a prime example is Ballykilcaven Brewery.”

Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery produces craft beer in Stradbally and its owner David Walsh-Kemis has been vocal in calling on the Electric Picnic organisers to allow his product be sold at the festival. The organisers have a sponsorship deal with a multinational beer company who have exclusive rights to sell their beer at the festival. 

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The deadline for submissions to Laois County Council on the Electric Picnic licensing application is Wednesday, April 16 at 5pm.