Journey Information
Events Date : 1st September 2017 & 3rd September 2017
Location : Stradbally, Co. Laois, Ireland
Venue : Stradbally Hall
Book Your Journey
- Sligo | Carrick on Shannon | Longford | Mullingar
- Galway | Athlone
*Buses return on Monday morning at 10:00am
Description: Electric Picnic returns to Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois from 1st to 3rd September 2017, delivering Ireland’s most eclectic music and arts experience across three immersive days. This legendary festival weekend blends big-name headliners, underground gems, theatrical performances, food trails, comedy, talks, and more into one unforgettable gathering. With acts like The xx, A Tribe Called Quest, and Duran Duran leading the lineup, and a mix of wellness zones, eco hubs, spoken word stages and forest raves, Electric Picnic continues to redefine what a modern music festival can be.
Irish Concert Travel offers a same-day and weekend return bus to Electric Picnic at Stradbally Hall from across Ireland. Whether you’re travelling just for one day or the full three-day camping experience, our dedicated coach service is your easiest and most comfortable way to reach the heart of the festival. Avoid the stress of driving, parking or long walks from far-off shuttle drop-offs — we’ll get you right to the official festival coach entrance.
All coach seats must be pre-booked and often sell out before the event — reserve early to guarantee your ride.
Journey Details: For Electric Picnic 2017, our dedicated coaches served fans from nearly every corner of Ireland. Our network included major pickup towns such as Galway, Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Mullingar, Athlone, and Portlaoise. Many festivalgoers from rural counties like Clare, Donegal, and Kerry also took advantage of our extended regional options. With direct, no-change routes to the festival site at Stradbally Hall, passengers enjoyed a smooth ride from home to festival gates.
Each coach followed a streamlined itinerary, arriving at designated times based on whether passengers held full weekend camping passes or day tickets. Our drivers were briefed on Laois County Council’s special event traffic flow plans, ensuring minimal delays through local access roads such as the N80 and R427. Return departures were timed based on festival end times each night, with clear signage at the coach loading zones to help guests find their buses quickly.
Helpful travel tips from 2017 included: arriving early, labelling luggage, waterproof packing, sturdy shoes, and having our contact number saved.
Electric Picnic is renowned for its immersive, magical atmosphere, but it’s located in a countryside estate — not easily reached by public transport. Booking a bus to Electric Picnic at Stradbally Hall meant festivalgoers avoided costly taxis, missed connections, and the stress of designated driver duties. Every year, thousands of our passengers say it’s the easiest way to travel to EP.
Whether you were watching LCD Soundsystem under the stars, dancing at Body & Soul, or soaking in the mind-expanding talks at MindField, our return coaches ensured you arrived and departed on time — safely and comfortably.
About Electric Picnic: Electric Picnic has earned its place as Ireland’s premier music and arts festival, held annually in the woodlands and gardens of Stradbally Hall, County Laois. Since its inception in 2004, the event has evolved into a three-day cultural celebration known for its eclectic mix of music, wellness, art installations, comedy, debate, and food experiences. The 2017 edition of the festival was no exception — bringing together global headliners and ground breaking performers across more than a dozen stages.
Electric Picnic 2017 featured an incredible lineup headlined by The xx, Duran Duran, A Tribe Called Quest, and LCD Soundsystem. The bill also included acts like Run The Jewels, Chaka Khan, Father John Misty, London Grammar, and Irish favourites Talos and All Tvvins. The festival’s signature zones returned, including the woodland party haven Body & Soul, the MindField spoken word and politics tent, Salty Dog’s pirate ship stage, and the pop-up foodie experiences curated in the Theatre of Food.
For many, Electric Picnic is more than music — it’s a full sensory journey. From late-night raves in Trenchtown to family-friendly fun at the Little Picnic area, it’s a multi-generational and multi-dimensional gathering. In 2017, new sustainability initiatives were introduced, including an expanded Eco Hub and composting programs to reduce waste. Festival organisers also enhanced accessibility with improved wheelchair routes and support services for disabled patrons.
Trivia You Might Not Know:
- Electric Picnic 2017 sold out in record time.
- Final Irish performance by A Tribe Called Quest.
- 55,000+ attendees – the largest edition yet.
- MindField featured live debates on major Irish and global issues.
FAQs –Bus to Electric Picnic at Stradbally Hall
What time does the bus to Electric Picnic from Galway depart?
Most weekend services from Galway left around 9:00–10:00am to arrive by midday.
Can I take the bus to Electric Picnic for just one day?
Yes. We offered single-day return services for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ticketholders.
Where did buses drop off at Stradbally Hall?
All coaches used the official bus park within walking distance to the main entrance gate of Electric Picnic.
Is there return service after each day or only after the weekend?
Both options were available. Day ticket holders had return buses each evening, and weekend campers returned on Monday.
Can I store my tent and gear on the coach?
Yes. Luggage compartments accommodated camping gear, but we asked that all items be clearly labelled.