LIVE: No fly zone declared over Electric Picnic as thousands descend on site early

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has imposed a Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) notice, or no fly zone over, the area of Stradbally Hall during the Electric Picnic festival this weekend.

The temporary restriction (Temporary Restricted Area) on the flying of aircraft and rockets includes drones as defined in S.I. No. 24 of 2023 and European Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/947.

The no fly zone is valid with minimal exceptions from 5am on Wednesday, August 27 until 8am on Tuesday, September 2. Electric Picnic runs from Friday until Sunday with thousands of campers expected to leave the site on Monday morning.

The IAA says the purpose of the no fly zone is to "ensure the safety of aircraft operating into and out of the Electric Picnic Music Festival, Stradbally Hall, Stradbally Co Laois and of other aircraft operating in the vicinity in the period cited."

A number of flights are exempt from the no fly zone and are therefore permitted in the area, including the flying of State aircraft, aircraft of the Irish Coastguard Service and HEMS aircraft employed on an operational mission.

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A statement says beyond this, "subject to any decision by the IAA to the contrary, the airspace within the TRA is restricted
to use by aircraft authorised by the event organisers (EP Republic Ltd)."

ABOVE: The no fly zone over Stradbally Hall for Electric Picnic

They also stress that "Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) including drones and rockets, may not operate within the TRA without specific written permission from the IAA and event organisers (EP Republic Ltd)."

The IAA adds: "UAS’s operated in breach of TRA restrictions may be subject to seizure by An Garda Síochána as evidence for potential prosecution and in the interest of aviation safety."