The organisers of Electric Picnic have postponed this year's festival by three weeks.
With the steady increase in the number of people being vaccinated and a promise from the Taoiseach that 70% of the population would be jabbed by the end of July, the Stradbally event was still up in the air for 2021.
But an update from those in charge this afternoon indicates the current plan is for the event to go ahead as normal.
A statement from the organisers said: "Good afternoon everyone. We wanted to update you all on how Electric Picnic plans to move forward this year. Given the great progress the HSE is making on the Vaccine Rollout so far, and the recently announced target of having at least 70% of the country fully vaccinated by the end of July, we are still confident that the festival can take place this year.
"That being said, we feel we have a much better chance of that happening by moving the dates back a few weeks to September 24-26 instead of the original dates of September 3-5.
"We are as desperate as everyone else to get our industry back up and running, and if moving the festival further back in September helps that dream become a reality then we feel it’s the right decision to make.
"We also understand that this may not suit everyone, and if you cannot make it that weekend then you are entitled to a full refund.
"Everyone in our industry, and the entire country for that matter, needs some sort of hope that the end of this pandemic is in sight. We truly wish that Electric Picnic will be the light at the end of the tunnel and we can welcome you all to Stradbally this year.
"Thank you so much for your continued patience and we will keep you updated as much as we can."
On Tuesday, a local councillor said the festival should be postponed.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Paschal McEvoy said that locals feel the festival is a step too far this year.
“Public health is paramount and that comes first and foremost with us here in Stradbally,” he said.
“The Electric Picnic brings a massive financial contribution to the locality and to Laois in general and probably further afield but we feel here in Stradbally … my feedback from the locals is that it is too soon to have 70,000 people converge on a small town like Stradbally.
“We are hoping that Festival Republic takes the decision to postpone it again.”
