Stunners leave festival revellers gasping for air as big event kicks off
by Niamh Byrne, Pics by Padraig O'Reilly
MISS Sunday World Niamh Walsh ignored the dark looming clouds and donned her hotpants and wellies to celebrate Oxegen 2008.
Dressed as a sexy cowgirl she joined a bevy of babes that left the 80,000 revellers who descended on Punchestown gasping for breath.
Supermodel Helena Christensen, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, TV beauty Glenda Gilson and our own Niamh turned up temperatures at the soggy Co. Kildare venue, while the cream of the world's music talent kept the hordes happy.
Shaky
The festival got off to a shaky start with a bus load of fans from Newry Co. Down having to evacuate their bus to the festival as it went up in flames on the M50 on Thursday afternoon.
But the unexpected dry weather and breaks of glorious sunshine gave the Oxegen crowd a reason to get up and shake their booty as well as their booties.
This year with the festival being spread over four days instead of three, there were none of the dreaded traffic jams of 2007 which saw cars being abandoned on the side of the street.
Amy Winehouse surprised fans by actually turning up this year, and joined a stellar line up which included the Kings of Leon, The Prodigy, REM, and the Verve and Sugababes among a host of other A-list artists.
While the dress code for the day was more warm jeans and hoodies then bikini tops and skirts, the ladies managed to look festival fit by stopping into Oxegen's Pull Parlour.
Offering waxes, hairdressing and make-up services, this haven was the first pit stop for fashionistas wanting to raise temperatures in the cold July winds.
Stripped
Our girl Niamh Walsh - tired from the festivities - stripped off for a relaxing massage in the beauty oasis.
"This place is a lifesaver, I come her every morning so I look half alive," says the 24-yearold stunner.
And it wasn't just the gals who were getting pampered in this salon, men were queuing up in their droves to get temporary colours and mowhawk styles in their hair for the festive fun.
Dublin's glitterati were out in full force for the summer's number one event with TV3's Glenda Gilson and model du jour Rachel Monteque partying with our girl Niamh until the wee hours.
"Wellies, toilet roll, a plastic poncho, baby wipes and Lifeline tablets are my essential items for festivals, they keep me dry, clean and free of headaches," laughed Expose babe Glenda.
The crowds in the arena couldn't keep their eyes - or their hands in some cases - off our girl Niamh.
"She looks spectacular," said John Smyth from Meath. "I totally give credit to a girl who can wear heels at a festival."
Ticket
"I recognise her from the paper, but she looks better in real life," added Declan Brady from Cavan.
"I've been here since Thursday, I'm in for the long haul.
"My friend was on the bus down from Down, and his ticket went up in smoke, I think they were just glad to get out alive.
"They were lucky though because MCD sent a bus down for them and gave them tents and stuff, but that's not the way to start your weekend."
While thousands slummed it in tents, the lucky few who forked out a few extra quid could choose from luxury tepees or pod pads.
The hobbit-style pod pads provided festival goers with carpet, shelving, lighting and an all important lock on the front door.
And there was an eco-friendly theme at the festival with many measure taken to reduce the party people's carbon footprint including the pod pads with their solar panels.
Waste from this year's festival was reduced by the introduction of the ecologically- sound Oxegen eco-cups.
Customers purchasing a drink at any of the bars had to pay a 3 Euro deposit on top of the drink cost which ensured that lazy festival goers would return to the bar with their cup instead of throwing it into a nearby field.