The organisers of the All Together Now Festival in Portlaw, Co Waterford have thanked festival-goers for their patience following a fraught first day which saw angry music fans stuck in traffic tailbacks for hours.
In a tweet on Friday evening, the organisers of the festival, which is now in its second year, said: "We are aware of the delays in getting to this weekend's All Together Now Festival, and we would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding."
The tweet described the festival venue at Curraghmore Estate as having "a complex network of surrounding country roads".
— All Together Now (@ATNfestival) August 2, 2019
"Every new festival faces challenges," the tweet continued. "Everything in terms of carpark, campsite and Main Arena opened on time today."
"We have encouraged people to use Bus Éireann services, train services and car-pooling systems to reduce the numbers of cars on the road," the organisers added.
There had been angry tweets from festival-goers on Friday about the lengthy travel delays, traffic management and the response from the festival, with patrons pointing to better organisation at the inaugural event last year.
#ATN19 still in a line of traffic.... apparently on the way to the blue gate...no traffic management...I'm sure I'll have a great weekend but equally sure i wont ever do this again @ATNfestival #shambolic
— Mary Quill (@emqueg) August 2, 2019
Will miss them due to the traffic 💔 pic.twitter.com/qTxViuXIFg
— Clinical Psychologist (@Irishpsyassist) August 2, 2019
This is an absolute joke. You sold out a festival and didnt put in place appropriate traffic management plans. Plenty of us car pooled. Will you be refunding people for the fact they missed 1 day of the festival due to your mismanagement? 4 hours plus to go 10km #AllTogetherNow
— Barbara Clyne (@BarbaraClyne) August 2, 2019
@ATNfestival finally in a FIELD! But still not parked. Can't wait for the mayhem trying to get out #atn19
— Kev D'Arcy (@kev_darcy) August 2, 2019
Let me decode this for those in doubt.
— Brian Kitson (@BrianKitson) August 2, 2019
We did great. It's all your fault 👍 #ATN19 https://t.co/yXILfCVDMO
I have truckers burn on one side of my face from non moving traffic approaching #ATN19. The smell of exhaust and burning rubber is everywhere. I think we all have to live here now. Festival will be well over by the time I park 🙄
— Sigh Cordelia 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🇯🇴 🏳️🌈 (@SighCordelia) August 2, 2019
An absolute shambles getting in people on the road for 8hrs and up. Last year was a breeze. What happened?? #ATN19
— Andy Jacob (@andyjwick) August 2, 2019
Now in massive 1.5 hour queue for Tangerine Field camping. I'm not too bothered (few cans, be grand) but people on the ground are FUMING.
— ˗ˏˋ ʀᴏs ᴍᴀᴅɪɢᴀɴ ˊˎ˗ (@rosmad) August 2, 2019
It’s a miracle that it’s sunny. Can’t imagine what people would be like if it was raining. @ATNfestival #atn19 pic.twitter.com/n9xU2TIc9E
Traffic management at #ATN19 is like one big guessing game, you've no idea how far away from the entrance you are or how long you’ll have to sit in the traffic queue.
— Nicola Ní Mhistéil (@serentrippety) August 2, 2019
Great craic all together now 🙄#AllTogetherNow
Left wicklow at 12.15, still stuck in traffic. People abandoning cars and walking, including whole families with young kids. No food, toilets, water, shops. It's like armagedon. Locals are absolute heroes though. #atn19 pic.twitter.com/AdjyrAKRDe
— Kate Gunn (@KateTakes5) August 2, 2019
The majority of us are still stuck on the road. @ATNfestival #atn19 #ShameOnYou pic.twitter.com/5J2TfF6GtS
— Paul Donnan (@pjdonnan) August 2, 2019
ITT the site just doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with this level of traffic. Bottleneck after bottleneck, it's one long single lane until you're into a field. The whole way we were stopstart. If a car needs to exit, all progress in has to be stopped. Shame really. #atn19 pic.twitter.com/OG29hp6oyS
— Luke (@Mr_LukeBenson) August 2, 2019
#atn19 pic.twitter.com/VgJSq8wNZE
— Matt Boyle (@Cheewbear) August 2, 2019
Ah so that's where they got the name for it. All together now. All stuck here for hours together now.#AllTogetherNow #ATN19 pic.twitter.com/D5o3U4nlxE
— Stevie Cahill (@StevieCahill) August 2, 2019
@ATNfestival When ya sit in traffic for 3 hours ya might as well make your own #atn #ATN19 #atnfestival music pic.twitter.com/psvSWZZGlV
— Aidan Lynch (@Grangegodden) August 2, 2019
The festival runs until Sunday with Lisa Hannigan, The National and Patti Smith among the acts on the bill.
