Five senior members of the Body&Soul production team hosted a well-supported meeting for residents at the Darnley Lodge Hotel, Athboy on Tuesday 3rd of May. These are casual notes taken during that meeting.

Avril Stanley – Festival Director

• Body&Soul 2022 will have a capacity of 5,500 (returning to 2012 levels)
• The festival site will be smaller than in previous years with only the eastern side in use
• There will be no children’s program this year and the event will be for over 21s only. Children will be welcomed again in 2023
• The festival has been refocussed with a greater emphasis being placed on wellbeing, culture, and sustainability
• While there is an intention to grow the festival slightly in the coming years, the team has no current appetite to return to the 15,000 capacity seen in 2019. It is intended that Body&Soul will be a smaller festival and will be aimed at those who appreciate its values.

Megan Best – Logistics

• Production traffic will begin to arrive at the site on Thursday 9th of June
• This traffic will access the site from the northern end via Clonmellon – signs will be posted in the area
• Public traffic attending the live event will access from the south via Delvin, through Crowenstown, and into the festival via gate A as in previous years. They will also leave the site via gate A.
• The festival car park will open at 12 with the camping sites opening at 3 pm
• Stewards will manage traffic but there will be no road closures
• No vehicle passes will be required this year
• As in previous years, noise levels will be monitored but some should be expected
• Festival arenas will close at different times but entertainment will continue in the camping sites until 4 am on Saturday 18th and Sunday the 19th, and until 2 am on Monday 20th.

Aoife Maguire – Resident Liaison

• As in previous years, a limited number of residents who live on the L5530 Kilrush Road (along the boundary of Ballinlough Castle) and the L5525 Crowenstown Road will receive complimentary weekend passes to the festival
• These residents are being asked to apply for them online this year as they will be distributed electronically. Proof of address will be required. Click here to submit an application.
• Given the smaller crowd, fencing will not be made widely available to residents this year. However, if you have any specific queries or concerns about security and you live in the immediate vicinity of the venue, you can contact the team here.
• The 24-hour resident phone line will be in operation during the live event as in previous years. The number will be shared nearer the time.

Stuart O’Sullivan – Community Contribution Representative

• 70 pairs of Sunday passes have been released for distribution amongst not-for-profit community groups in Delvin, Clonmellon, and Athboy
• Passes can be auctioned, raffled, or sold with proceeds returning to group funds or they can be used to raise awareness of the group or its projects
• For further information and to apply, click here.

Other Matters

• Each year, 87-89% of intruders (fence jumpers) are identified as being from the local area. The team is keen to engage with youngsters (19+) and encourage them to volunteer at the festival instead of breaking into it.
• A number of opportunities exist across all areas of the festival from manning gates, directing cars, and answering questions, to earth guardians, stage/tech hands, site dressers, and much, much more.
• Volunteers will receive weekend passes in return for their work – and those who sign up as pre-event volunteers can enjoy the full weekend having completed their work in advance!
• Further details here.
• If any resident has any questions or concerns about the event, they are welcome to contact the team here.