RTÉ should broadcast Electric Picnic performances to highlight ‘homegrown’ Irish talent, according to music lovers. 

More than 75,000 revellers spent the weekend in Stradbally, Co Laois, for yet another year of the iconic festival. 

Many more people, however, would love to tune into the festival from the comfort of their homes. 

Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland member Jackie Conboy said it should be a “no brainer” for RTÉ to begin broadcasting acts at Electric Picnic. 

“Out of the €700 million that RTÉ has got, I would expect it for next year,” he told Lunchtime Live. 

“When you look at Glastonbury and it costs €62 million to stage that event – now you have Electric Picnic, which employs over 5,000 people, not including artists. 

“Surely either RTÉ with over €700 million or Minister Martin would do something there.

“We have so much, so many and so talented homegrown artists that would actually get more airplay.” 

He said Irish people would love to “sit back with a glass of wine” and watch different acts at EP. 

Crowds at the Electric Arena for the Wolfe Tones at Electric Picnic. (Photo by Electric Picnic)

This would be especially important for smaller Irish acts making their way through the music industry. 

“We've been fighting this for so long, the lack of airplay for Irish acts,” he said. 

“Imagine if they could get on TV and then that would be broadcast throughout the world. 

“We have the talent to do it, we have the production people, we have all the sound people. 

“We have the people available to do it - it's only a matter of paying for it.” 

Filming Electric Picnic

DJ and broadcaster Marty Gilfoyle performed a set at Electric Picnic on Saturday – but he had to go to work on Sunday. 

He said he would have loved to still watch Electric Picnic on his television. 

“When I got home and ordered a Sunday evening Chinese takeaway, the thought of being able to sit the TV on and watch Kylie Minogue be incredible on the main stage, I thought I would have watched that over Love Is Blind,” he said. 

Mr Gilfoyle pointed out there are also “amazing comedians” at the festival who could be broadcasted during the day. 

He acknowledged filming a festival isn’t as simple as setting up a camera. 

“You can only imagine the work that goes into it,” he said. “But we do have it all here, we don't need to go abroad for it. 

A record 21.6 million people tuned into the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage this year. 

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