Thousands of teenagers from all around the country descended onto a rural beach in County Mayo at the weekend to enjoy a music festival with a difference. Foróige's Band on the Strand is a unique drug and alcohol free music festival which takes place on one of the country’s most isolated and picturesque beaches, Lacken Strand. More than 2,000 revellers enjoyed the festival which continued until the early hours of the morning and proved that teenagers do not need alcohol or drugs to have a good time.
Headline acts included Keywest, Walking on Cars, Mojo GoGo, Stonefree, I'm your Vinyl and DJ Fergal D'Arcy. Foróige CEO Seán Campbell said: “In a week which has been dominated by debate about alcohol and alcohol sponsorship, festivals like the Foróige Band on the Strand prove that great events can take place where alcohol and indeed alcohol sponsorship do not play a part. Major sporting, art or music events in Ireland are all too often associated with alcohol or an alcohol brand so it’s great to see that events such as Foróige’s Band on the Strand - which is organised and run by volunteers – take place and be so successful. The annual festival is now in its sixth year and is going from strength to strength.
“Teenagers in Ireland need access to events such as Foróige’s Band on the Strand where they can go, have fun, listen to their favourite bands and meet friends – all in a safe and alcohol free environment. Activities such as these may help in some small way to change mindsets and perhaps even the Irish drinking culture.”
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