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Last Post 7/18/2006 4:30 PM by  nerraw
This is great, oxegen article
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nerraw
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7/18/2006 4:30 PM
    From the Sunday Mirror in their own restrained manner complete with quotes from the oxegen message board. TERRIFIED music fans feared for their lives as drunken gangs ran amok through the official Oxegen campsite at Punchestown racecourse last weekend. As more than 80,000 people attended the two-day music festival, revellers who stayed in the festival campsites slammed the organisers through a chatroom on the official Oxegen website. One music fan said a drunken mob set fire to tents on the last night of the festival. He said: "Ironically, I had a great laugh at the gig jumping around to the Kaiser Chiefs as they played their hit 'I Predict a Riot'. But I don't think even they could have predicted the trouble that broke out later that night. "We spent the whole night huddled in our tent in fear for our safety." More than 9,000 people camped out in the sites provided by festival promoters MCD. But one music fan from Mayo said drunken gangs ran amok in the two areas of the campsite on Sunday night. He said: "It started with groups of drunken teenagers throwing things at rival groups and starting fires. But this soon moved on - and random tents and people were being attacked. "My friends and I - and all our neighbours - formed a group of about 20 people who stayed up all night to protect our tents." He said: "Security would arrive now and again to quench fires but I didn't think they could deal with the situation. "There were fires going on all the time, and people were throwing things in. It sounded like deodorant cans were exploding. "I saw fireworks being thrown into fires, deodorant cans, tents and anything else available being used as fuel. He said: "There was no trouble at first - but on Sunday afternoon at around 5 o'clock there were a bunch of new drunken louts beside us. "They were belting each other with the mallet for driving down tent stakes and then they started pulling down tents and stuff. "I saw some security watching over the campsites from those little watchtower things." But then in a change of tactics he said security guards rushed the campsite at 5 in the morning - and cleared everyone out. He said: "On Monday morning a load of security guards came down to me and my friend. "They told me to get my tent but not i to bother packing up my stuff - just drag my tent along with me." One perosn claiming to be a security I guard said on the chatroom: "The force : we used to get rid of the yobs was justified " and needed, it is unfortunate that a few innocent people had to be evicted well."" But a spokesman for Oxegen promoters MCD said there were only a j few isolated incidents in the campsites. j He said: "About 30 troublemakers were evicted from site early Sunday morning for unruly behaviour. Two ' tents were set alight which were quickly put out. "We are at a loss to understand why: you believe this is worthy of a story." The annual event at Punchestown: racecourse, Co. Kildare, was a massive hit with fans but was blighted by foul weather last weekend. Gardai arrested 13 drug dealers ft and more than 200 users. Cocaine, ecstasy and hash were seized by undercover officers. A Garda spokesman said: "We I arrested 225 people for possession of I drugs including 13 charged with f possession with intent to supply." But organisers hailed the event I headline by The Who. a majorC success.
    kavobaggins
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    7/18/2006 4:39 PM
    The Mirror also used a photo taken directly from the trouble at Reading/Leeds last year as their main picture.
    Mully
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    7/18/2006 4:47 PM
    http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77264 More of the same ... Includes the front cover of the Sunday Mirror. I can count more than 2 tents on fire, but mcd say only 2 were on fire, & were quickly taken care of, making the story not very newsworthy, then who are we to argue ...
    comet
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    7/18/2006 4:52 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by nerraw "We are at a loss to understand why: you believe this is worthy of a story."
    quote:
    Originally posted by nerraw More than 9,000 people camped out in the sites provided by festival promoters MCD.
    Is that all that camped there?? I thought it was a lot more than that!
    quote:
    Originally posted by kavobaggins
    The Mirror also used a photo taken directly from the trouble at Reading/Leeds last year as their main picture.
    A lot of people were looking at youtube videos of the Download riots and fires thinking they were Oxegen too.
    Mar
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    7/18/2006 5:21 PM
    Say if you are one of the big promoters like MCD, how would you stop f**kwit skangers coming to your festival and ruining it in the first place??dont think its possible,I know EP attracts a different kind of crowd mainly through the line-up but should people have to go through all that crap that went on at oxegen just because there's a broader more 'mainstream' line-up?my friends and I were having a conversation about this the other night and trying to dream up the perfect festival but at the end of the day even if you have the best line-up(totally subjective i know), the best facilites, the best security you still can;t stop the scumbags from coming in and ruining it all,its not like you can stop people on the way in for wearing trackies or football jerseys (hmm or could you?) i spose if there's gonna be tens of thousands of people together in a field drinking and doing drugs surely its got to get messy at some stage, dont know why people are really suprised at what went on, i think if you;re going to a more mainstream festival you have to expect to put up with some level of sh*t, otherwise just dont bother going, i dont see how they can ever come up with a flawless destival experience unless you;re targeting a fairly small demographic
    Una
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    7/18/2006 5:45 PM
    a lot more than 9,000 people camp, I think. The cops told me that 53,000 cars arrived on Friday - the day before the festival. I think, in general, the majority of people who attend Oxegen, camp.
    Punchbowl
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    7/18/2006 6:09 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Mar
    Say if you are one of the big promoters like MCD, how would you stop f**kwit skangers coming to your festival and ruining it in the first place??dont think its possible,I know EP attracts a different kind of crowd mainly through the line-up but should people have to go through all that crap that went on at oxegen just because there's a broader more 'mainstream' line-up?my friends and I were having a conversation about this the other night and trying to dream up the perfect festival but at the end of the day even if you have the best line-up(totally subjective i know), the best facilites, the best security you still can;t stop the scumbags from coming in and ruining it all,its not like you can stop people on the way in for wearing trackies or football jerseys (hmm or could you?) i spose if there's gonna be tens of thousands of people together in a field drinking and doing drugs surely its got to get messy at some stage, dont know why people are really suprised at what went on, i think if you;re going to a more mainstream festival you have to expect to put up with some level of sh*t, otherwise just dont bother going, i dont see how they can ever come up with a flawless destival experience unless you;re targeting a fairly small demographic
    Perhaps arrange for Dublin to be playing in Donegal that weekend? I don't think the line-up is a major issue. It's a national event now, and really, since they started selling tickets before the line-up was announced it became more about the weekend away than the music itself. It might be harsh, but restricting camping is one way of dealing with it. Maybe even a camping 'Deposit' could be feasible?? But then again there is a genuine problem with our society. Incidents like this will happen again, although perhaps not at say, the Midlands festival, but elsewhere. AND It's not as simple as saying 'Drunken ' gangs ran amok, I was part of a drunken gang and I certainly didn't, but as usual drink will be blamed, Heineken will probably back away from the whole gig and it'll eventually be cancelled doe to lack of sponsorship. And all because the Celtic Tiger has made us a country full of nicely wealthy Skobies.
    Una
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    7/18/2006 6:31 PM
    it's got nothing to do with being drunk, doing drugs, liking a certain kind of music or clothing yourself in a certain type of attire. Groups of young men (and some young women) everywhere will always act the eejit and annoy people who don't want to act the eejit, and cause a certain amount of damage and displeasure along the way. You get the same in every city/town centre every night of the weekend. With 70,000 people in one place, why would Oxegen be exempt from this?
    Garret
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    7/18/2006 6:37 PM
    The quote from a security guard wasnt a security guard but someone who posts under the name EventSec on the forums. Anto_From_A10 posted two of those pictures, neither of which were from Oxegen. AND the spelt person wrong
    Unicron
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    7/18/2006 6:55 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Una
    it's got nothing to do with being drunk, doing drugs, liking a certain kind of music or clothing yourself in a certain type of attire. Groups of young men (and some young women) everywhere will always act the eejit and annoy people who don't want to act the eejit, and cause a certain amount of damage and displeasure along the way. You get the same in every city/town centre every night of the weekend. With 70,000 people in one place, why would Oxegen be exempt from this?
    But it doesn't happen at many other festivals though. I think the obvious solution is to ban booze from these events and to give every attendee massive quantities of dope, pills and shrooms. No problems with violence there then.
    Una
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    7/18/2006 7:21 PM
    here here Unicron!
    Binokular
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    7/19/2006 12:01 AM
    This is one of the reason I don't like weekend festivals that involve camping. The shorter the festival, the easier it is to manage. What's wrong with a one day festival anyway. The first Electric Picnic was great despite it's relatively modest line-up. I like to pay for the privilege of seeing lots of great music, not sleeping in a tent.
    Rev Jules
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    7/19/2006 1:19 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Binokular
    This is one of the reason I don't like weekend festivals that involve camping. The shorter the festival, the easier it is to manage. What's wrong with a one day festival anyway. The first Electric Picnic was great despite it's relatively modest line-up. I like to pay for the privilege of seeing lots of great music, not sleeping in a tent.
    I agree, if you want to camp, join the scouts, unless of course you are at an age where that would look a tad dodgy Me, I f**king hate camping.
    MarkO
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    7/19/2006 7:03 AM
    And I thought I had problems at the Sasquatch festival being woken by a bunch of drunken Canucks singing 'O Canada'.
    off the post
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    7/19/2006 9:13 AM
    Maybe if the Guards stopped arresting people for drugs it might just reduce the amount of drunken fools...
    kavobaggins
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    7/19/2006 10:16 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by off the post
    Maybe if the Guards stopped arresting people for drugs it might just reduce the amount of drunken fools...
    ...or if they spent more time actually trying to police the place and concentrating on generally drunken misbehaviour and violent acts rather than trying to nab people with a quarter in their pockets.
    kavobaggins
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    7/19/2006 10:20 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Mar
    i spose if there's gonna be tens of thousands of people together in a field drinking and doing drugs surely its got to get messy at some stage, dont know why people are really suprised at what went on,
    But is Glastonbury not a mainstream festival at this stage? The weekend Glastonbury is on every year it becomes the biggest town in southern England, yet has one of the lowest crime rates. And the english people are supposed to be the yobs???
    benni
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    7/19/2006 10:26 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by kavobaggins
    quote:
    Originally posted by off the post
    Maybe if the Guards stopped arresting people for drugs it might just reduce the amount of drunken fools...
    ...or if they spent more time actually trying to police the place and concentrating on generally drunken misbehaviour and violent acts rather than trying to nab people with a quarter in their pockets.
    Damn straight
    Daragh
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    7/19/2006 10:57 AM

    quote:
    Originally posted by kavobaggins
    quote:
    Originally posted by off the post
    Maybe if the Guards stopped arresting people for drugs it might just reduce the amount of drunken fools...
    ...or if they spent more time actually trying to police the place and concentrating on generally drunken misbehaviour and violent acts rather than trying to nab people with a quarter in their pockets.
    agreed. f**king ridiculous if you ask me. but thats a whole other kettle of fish.
    Mar
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    7/19/2006 11:35 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by kavobaggins
    quote:
    Originally posted by Mar
    i spose if there's gonna be tens of thousands of people together in a field drinking and doing drugs surely its got to get messy at some stage, dont know why people are really suprised at what went on,
    But is Glastonbury not a mainstream festival at this stage? The weekend Glastonbury is on every year it becomes the biggest town in southern England, yet has one of the lowest crime rates. And the english people are supposed to be the yobs???
    yeah i know , i only meant in the context of an Irish festival, ive been to others in different countries and never see the same amount of trouble, reckon its because oxegen has gone more the way of a weekends p*ss up for all the young uns rather than anything to do with music
    Mully
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    7/19/2006 11:48 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Mar
    reckon its because oxegen has gone more the way of a weekends p*ss up for all the young uns rather than anything to do with music
    I think the sale of tickets 6mths before any bands are announced adds to this too.
    nerraw
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    7/19/2006 12:14 PM
    I think it just Irish people in general that's the problem. Getting pissed is the norm and Oxegen is just an extension of that. The social element is long gone. Also, the security guards at oxegen are a disgrace and the type of people you would normally avoid on a saturday night, yet it is these people that we expect to protect us. Went to Glasto last year and there is none of that carry on. The campsite is pleasant. But then again there are things to do at night there and generally the tent is for sleeping. If u want to continue partying head to Lost Vagueness. Regarding alcohol, you have your cider/beer/wine and sit down and enjoy it, instead of a pint of piss that you want rid of as soon as possible. Only a matter of time before EP heads the way of oxegen.
    stroller
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    7/19/2006 2:43 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by nerraw
    Only a matter of time before EP heads the way of oxegen.
    Unfortunately I reckon you could be right. I remember talking to an older friend of mine who attended all the Feile festivals back in the day. He said the first few attracted a lovely crowd, a really sound bunch of music fans who just wanted to enjoy themselves and there was a lovely communal atmosphere and a real sense of camaraderie among the campers. But as the years went by and word of the festival spread, more and more skangers started turning up and more and more tents started getting burgled and there was more aggro around the place and the original vibe slowly disintegrated. To a lesser degree the same can be said of Oxegen/Witnness. I've being to five of the seven gigs and while their was always a certain percentage of knackers at the festival their numbers have increased with every passing year. I fear that there'll be more scumbags at this year's Electric Picnic than there was last year, and there'll be more the year after that and after a few years the crowd will have the same percentage of knackers as Oxegen. I'd love to be proved wrong but I don't think I will.
    Una
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    7/19/2006 3:04 PM
    if items are robbed on site, or someone is injured, shouldn't the organisers be liable?
    kavobaggins
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    7/19/2006 4:27 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by nerraw
    I think it just Irish people in general that's the problem. Getting pissed is the norm and Oxegen is just an extension of that. The social element is long gone. Went to Glasto last year and there is none of that carry on. The campsite is pleasant. But then again there are things to do at night there and generally the tent is for sleeping. If u want to continue partying head to Lost Vagueness. Regarding alcohol, you have your cider/beer/wine and sit down and enjoy it, instead of a pint of piss that you want rid of as soon as possible. Only a matter of time before EP heads the way of oxegen.
    Fraid youre spot on there alright Nerraw. It seems to be a national problem rather than specifically linked to Oxegen punters. EP just seems to be the exception to the rule at the moment, but tis only a matter of time. How many demonstrations, protests, free parties, beach parties and raves have people been at that have been ruined by one or two idiots. As for Glasto, if anything its far safer now too. Before the 'superfence' went up, granted it was a far more alternative crowd, but you sometimes have to pay the price for lack of organisation. Oxegen just seems to have the unimportant elements organised perfectly, yet it completely neglects the things that truely make a festival a festival.
    Protein biscuit
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    7/19/2006 5:29 PM
    The time for revolution is imminent. First against the wall (amongst others) will be the skangers.
    caff.l
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    7/20/2006 12:09 PM
    spot on protein biscuit. if u type skanger into wikipedia.com it gives a precise description. there is no grey area so there will be no innocent casualties.
    stroller
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    7/20/2006 12:18 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Una
    if items are robbed on site, or someone is injured, shouldn't the organisers be liable?
    If someone is injured than I's say yes but if someone is robbed I'd reckon the answer would be no. I'm sure that there's a disclaimer somewhere stating that MCD will accept no responsibility for the loss or theft of patrons possesions.
    vandala
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    7/22/2006 7:42 PM
    Irish Indo today: THE organisers of Oxegen have come under fire after concert-goers said they feared for their lives at the outdoor event. Despite being heralded as a resounding success by MCD, allegations of goings-on at the two-day concert include: * Tents being set on fire. * Unprovoked attacks on bystanders. * A lack of security guards on hand at campsites. Many furious fans posted details of their experiences on the Oxegen website. However, MCD removed the messages a number of hours after being contacted by the Irish Independent. Refused MCD also refused to answer a number of questions put to it by this newspaper, including details of how many security guards were on duty. "MCD are ecstatic with the success of the event, as are the gardai and Kildare County Council," said MCD spokesman Justin Green. In a statement, he also went on to say: "We must warn you that in the event that an article critical of the event is published, we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent damage to the Oxegen event or MCD Productions." However, a number of people who contacted the Irish Independent said they were left shaken from their experiences, mainly confined to Campsite A. Sophie Merry, who camped with her boyfriend Brian McCafferty, said she would never return. "I feared for my life when we were there," she said. "If my boyfriend hadn't been there I wouldn't have stayed in the tent with another girl. We wouldn't have been safe. . . It was like a third-world country." Gardai in Naas said although they were aware of some fires being lit in the campsites, it was up to the fire services and security guards to deal with them while the gardai dealt with other criminal incidents. About 180 gardai were on duty for the weekend on the 550-acre site, with 60 confined to traffic duty. Others were assigned to monitioring bars or to patrol. Michael Fitzsimons, chief fire officer in Newbridge, said it was the duty of the organisers and their employees to deal with the fires on campsites. He added he had heard reports of trouble in the campsites, saying that he would be "a little concerned about what went on on the Sunday night". "We will be contacting them next year (the organisers) and asking for increased surveillance on the Sunday night," he said. Feeling He added that there was a general feeling that events on the Sunday night were "not as satisfactory as they should have been". Niall Power, a DJ on South East regional station Beat FM, said his group of friends left early because of the trouble. Despite a gang of 12 people in their mid-to-late 20s, he said they were too scared to hang around. "We left everything and got out at 5 on Monday morning because it was so dangerous," he said. One man who rang Liveline on RTE last week said the girls in his group were also terrified. 'Kevin' said they were forced to move tents on Sunday night after fold-up chairs were thrown and punched holes in their tent and added that the security "wasn't very adequate". When asked by presenter Derek Davis if he would return next year, he replied: "I don't think I would because all of the girls were very very distressed." Recalling the event, he said there was "fire everywhere" and "smoke all over the place" when they got up in the middle of Sunday night to move tents. They later met a young man whose hand had been burnt when his tent was set on fire with him in it. One 20-year-old from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, said he returned to his tent on Monday morning to find it alight with his girlfriend asleep inside. The majority of people said the concert arena was very well organised and had improved on last year. They said the problems were concentrated in particular campsites. "No one is slating the line-up," said Liz Power from Waterford city. ""If they want to keep going with Oxegen they're going to have to do something about the campsite next year." According to Ryan's Cleaning Event Specialist, who were hired to clean up the site after the two-day event, four out of five tents had been abandoned after the event. There were 50 arrests and 370 minor drug seizures at the event. MCD refused to give details of how many security personnel were on duty for the event. Edel Kennedy
    Daragh
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    7/22/2006 7:55 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by vandala
    In a statement, he also went on to say: "We must warn you that in the event that an article critical of the event is published, we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent damage to the Oxegen event or MCD Productions."
    eh, fascist.
    comet
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    7/23/2006 1:12 PM
    Ok so she finally got to write the article MCD tried to block, ha ha! As well as monitoring their own Oxegen messageboard MCD have also contacted at least one other forum and forced them to remove and stop any discussion of mcd or the oxegen festival. I think MCD have little to worry about because even with all the negative discussion 2007 will most likely be another sellout. There will be plenty who won't return next year including me but no doubt there will be a new generation of kids coming off the production line eager to take their place.
    Unicron
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    7/23/2006 2:12 PM
    That other forum has been scared so badly that they've banned all mention of hte words "oxegen" and "MCD" from the forums. Of course that forum is generally regarded to have idiots running it.
    H3lx
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    7/23/2006 5:21 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by stroller
    quote:
    Originally posted by nerraw
    Only a matter of time before EP heads the way of oxegen.
    Unfortunately I reckon you could be right
    hifi has proved to be a godsend as regards the level of scum at ep theyll all be going to hifi in august instead, meaning the amount of scum at ep will be drastically reduced, because lets face it, no 90 degree cap wearing ronnie sporter is gonna go see dj shadow instead of tiesto
    Garret
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    7/23/2006 6:06 PM
    Pete?
    Pilchard
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    7/23/2006 9:28 PM
    great article from the Indo on MCD's thuggish approach to criticism http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1658541&issue_id=14402
    Garret
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    7/23/2006 10:35 PM
    requires registration to see would you mind copy and pasting it?
    Pilchard
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    7/24/2006 9:12 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Garret
    requires registration to see would you mind copy and pasting it?
    no worries How we feared for our lives at Oxegen . . . festival-goers relive their nightmare THE organisers of Oxegen have come under fire after concert-goers said they feared for their lives at the outdoor event. Despite being heralded as a resounding success by MCD, allegations of goings-on at the two-day concert include: * Tents being set on fire. * Unprovoked attacks on bystanders. * A lack of security guards on hand at campsites. Many furious fans posted details of their experiences on the Oxegen website. However, MCD removed the messages a number of hours after being contacted by the Irish Independent. MCD also refused to answer a number of questions put to it by this newspaper, including details of how many security guards were on duty. "MCD are ecstatic with the success of the event, as are the gardai and Kildare County Council," said MCD spokesman Justin Green. In a statement, he also went on to say: "We must warn you that in the event that an article critical of the event is published, we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent damage to the Oxegen event or MCD Productions." However, a number of people who contacted the Irish Independent said they were left shaken from their experiences, mainly confined to Campsite A. Sophie Merry, who camped with her boyfriend Brian McCafferty, said she would never return. "I feared for my life when we were there," she said. "If my boyfriend hadn't been there I wouldn't have stayed in the tent with another girl. We wouldn't have been safe. . . It was like a third-world country." Gardai in Naas said although they were aware of some fires being lit in the campsites, it was up to the fire services and security guards to deal with them while the gardai dealt with other criminal incidents. About 180 gardai were on duty for the weekend on the 550-acre site, with 60 confined to traffic duty. Others were assigned to monitioring bars or to patrol. Michael Fitzsimons, chief fire officer in Newbridge, said it was the duty of the organisers and their employees to deal with the fires on campsites. He added he had heard reports of trouble in the campsites, saying that he would be "a little concerned about what went on on the Sunday night". "We will be contacting them next year (the organisers) and asking for increased surveillance on the Sunday night," he said. Feeling He added that there was a general feeling that events on the Sunday night were "not as satisfactory as they should have been". Niall Power, a DJ on South East regional station Beat FM, said his group of friends left early because of the trouble. Despite a gang of 12 people in their mid-to-late 20s, he said they were too scared to hang around. "We left everything and got out at 5 on Monday morning because it was so dangerous," he said. One man who rang Liveline on RTE last week said the girls in his group were also terrified. 'Kevin' said they were forced to move tents on Sunday night after fold-up chairs were thrown and punched holes in their tent and added that the security "wasn't very adequate". When asked by presenter Derek Davis if he would return next year, he replied: "I don't think I would because all of the girls were very very distressed." Recalling the event, he said there was "fire everywhere" and "smoke all over the place" when they got up in the middle of Sunday night to move tents. They later met a young man whose hand had been burnt when his tent was set on fire with him in it. One 20-year-old from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, said he returned to his tent on Monday morning to find it alight with his girlfriend asleep inside. The majority of people said the concert arena was very well organised and had improved on last year. They said the problems were concentrated in particular campsites. "No one is slating the line-up," said Liz Power from Waterford city. ""If they want to keep going with Oxegen they're going to have to do something about the campsite next year." According to Ryan's Cleaning Event Specialist, who were hired to clean up the site after the two-day event, four out of five tents had been abandoned after the event. There were 50 arrests and 370 minor drug seizures at the event. MCD refused to give details of how many security personnel were on duty for the event. Edel Kennedy
    comet
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    7/24/2006 12:21 PM
    Not being smart guys but this article was posted and commented on on the previous page of this thread!!!
    Pilchard
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    7/24/2006 12:47 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by comet
    Not being smart guys but this article was posted and commented on on the previous page of this thread!!!
    apologies, my fault, didnt see that.
    H3lx
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    7/24/2006 8:19 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Garret
    Pete?
    yeh who this?
    comet
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    7/28/2006 1:50 PM
    The Ticket Oxegen gets the wind knocked out of it //Discotheque Jim Carroll IT'S THE story which refuses to go away. Nearly three weeks after the last note sounded at Oxegen, tales of what did and didn't happen on Campsite A continue to be told. The charges are of tents set on fire, robberies, security personnel unwilling or unable to deal with problems, a mini-riot and unprovoked attacks on bystanders. There have been news reports about these claims in several newspapers, calls to RTÉ Radio One's Liveline and an outpouring of anger from fans on online messageboards. Perhaps most interesting is concert promoter MCD's reaction to the criticism. The Irish Independent reporter's call to spokesman Justin Green provoked the following statement: "We must warn you that in the event that an article critical of the event is published, we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent damage to the Oxegen event or MCD Productions." That such a pre-emptive strike was deemed necessary is quite a contrast to the overwhelmingly positive pre-event media attention. TV, radio and print were happy to relay Green's enthusiastic talk about the great facilities at the user-friendly Oxegen, including, for the first time, hot showers. Now it's a much different shower raining down. Ironically, the story first came to light on Oxegen's own website. Other websites were also commandeered, but the real anger came to the fore on Oxegen.ie. After all, this was the site where festival fans had been chatting happily to one another before the event. These fans were the Oxegen community and they had spent months posting hundreds of messages anticipating the brilliant weekend. Now some of them had a different tale to tell and wanted to vent their anger. But they quickly discovered that they would have to go elsewhere to air their ire. After a few days, the plug was pulled and the Oxegen messageboard was decommissioned. In response to a query, MCD stated to Discotheque that the board was scheduled to close five days after the event and will re-open in November, when tickets go on sale for Oxegen 2007. One possible refuge for disgruntled fans was the very busy Boards.ie messageboard. But that site's administrators decided they were playing with fire and banned all mention of MCD, Oxegen and even, bizarrely, forthcoming MCD shows. Discussions have continued on the Thumped, Cluas and Electric Picnic forums. Now, there are presumably thousands of people who went to Oxegen, stayed on the campsite and had a brilliant time despite the weather. But the eyewitness reports of what happened on Sunday night/Monday morning have dominated the post-Oxegen news cycle. This may well impact on how high-profile brands associated with the festival or the parents of younger festival-goers feel about future Oxegens. As the biggest concert promoter in the land, MCD is already the target of complaints about everything from ticket prices to security men. Now, by censoring those fans who feel they have valid criticisms to make, Oxegen is biting the hand that feeds it. After all, rival festival Electric Picnic improved dramatically once promoter John Reynolds paid attention to complaints. Now that fans have more choice for their euros both here and abroad, Oxegen simply can't bury its head in the sand and hope the negative stories go away. Time, then, to kiss and make up with those discombobulated fans, and take account of valid criticisms.


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