Laois County Council has refused to grant a license for Electric Picnic festival to go ahead this year.

Although organisers Festival Republic and MCD have been hopeful that the festival might return this year after last year's break (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Laois County Council has just released a statement today announcing their negative decision.

"Laois County Council has today made the decision to refuse a licence to hold the 2021 Electric Picnic event at Stradbally, Co Laois," they said.

They state that their decision was made due to "the most up-to-date public health advice made available to the council by the HSE.

“Furthermore it is noted that under current Government measures for the management of Covid-19 events of this nature are restricted of 500 people only,” the statement continues.

Speculation had carried on throughout the year about whether or not the event would return, with organisers listing twelve reasons why they think the festival should be allowed to go ahead as late as this past Monday.

Proposed measures included only allowing fully vaccinated fans to enter, and pre-registration for contact tracing.

If the festival does not go ahead, it will represent a huge disappointment – as well as a serious financial loss – to the 4,000 people who are normally employed working on the festival, and to the artists and bands for whom it is is such an important opportunity.

As the Council's decision has only just been released, there has been no comment from festival organisers at the time of writing.

This is an ongoing story.