Electric Picnic: Hundreds of Sleeping Bags Saved for Homeless

The Electric Picnic festival, held in Stradbally, County Laois, has left behind a legacy beyond the music and memories. A local charity, Portlaoise Action to Homelessness (PATH), has successfully salvaged hundreds of abandoned sleeping bags from the festival site, destined for those in need.

The 20th anniversary edition of the festival saw an estimated 75,000 attendees, leaving a considerable trail of discarded items behind. PATH volunteers reported finding not only sleeping bags but also tents, camping equipment, and clothing, all of which will be redistributed to homeless people in Dublin.

Despite challenging weather conditions, including high winds, PATH managed to collect a significant amount of usable items. Maria McCormic, a volunteer with the charity, told BBC News NI that the operation was "very significant" and had involved almost 20 dedicated volunteers.

"The salvage was almost cancelled due to weather and high winds," McCormic explained. "But we persevered and managed to clear the fields. We'll be washing and distributing the sleeping bags to the homeless in Dublin over the next two months."

This incident is not unique to the Electric Picnic. Music festivals have long faced the challenge of abandoned camping equipment, leaving organisers and local authorities with a substantial clean-up effort. Some have advocated for a deposit system, whereby festival-goers pay a deposit for their tents, which is only refunded upon their return.

This year, the Electric Picnic has made sustainability a core focus, aiming to minimise its impact on the environment. Melvin Benn, managing director of the festival, stated: "We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on the only planet we have got."

While the success of these efforts is still being assessed, PATH's initiative highlights the positive side of festival waste. By salvaging abandoned items, they are offering a lifeline to those experiencing homelessness, demonstrating that even in the midst of a large-scale event, there is still room for generosity and support for those most in need.