Air traffic control strike hits Electric Picnic launch in Laois
The CEO of Festival Republic and Director of Electric Picnic, Melvin Benn was a no-show at the launch of the festival in Stradbally.
Mr Benn normally meets the press at the famous pre-festival recce in Laois but reporters learned on Tuesday, August 29 that the main man wasn't going to make it to Laois.
The breakdown of the UK's air traffic control system was the reason given by Picnic representatives in Stradbally ahead of the tour of the site of the event in Stradbally Hall.
His absence didn't stop reporters and camera people getting a tour of the site in Laois.
Upwards of 70,000 revelers will converge on Laois this weekend for the final fling of the summer.