PICTURES: Electric Picnic photo diary gives insight into the realities of the festival

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Electric Picnic weekend brought with it dancing, expensive food, more than 50,000 steps and fun in the sun. 

What an experience which flew by in a blur and between tiredness and sore feet, it was all worth it. 

We started off the weekend by pitching pop up tents and settling in to our campsite nicely. Getting changed on your knees in a tent is not fun, especially when you opt for a faux leather ensemble as I did for Day 1. 

Between music, chats and laughs, we got the thermal socks and Doc Martens on and hit the main arena. Speaking to people, taking photographs and soaking in the atmosphere under the hazy sun was bliss. 

Heading to the woods first, we went to a gig at the Salty Dog stage before trekking out to see headliner Noah Kahan on the main stage.

Getting back to the tent with a rather deflated air mattress meant I woke up early Saturday morning on a cold ground, but with a warm heart. 

Day 2 was cloudy and a chilly breeze was in the air. We didn't care, however, and by lunchtime were eating overpriced taco chips with strangers on a wooden bench. 

We went to Blindboy with special guest Garron Noone in the Rankins Wood tent in the early evening, before Kodaline took to the stage at 9:15pm, which got the crowd swaying in unity and singing in unison to hits such as High Hopes and All I Want. 

That night, we watched from the Three VIP balcony as Calvin Harris took the stage by storm in an array of flashing lights and smoke, drawing thousands upon thousands to the main arena. 

Later, we trekked to the famous and mysterious Berlin Haus for a secret underground rave.

Day 3 was an early start for us at 8am, as we trekked over to the Samuel Beckett and Andy Warhol campsites to source some hot breakfast rolls and go to Aldi. Neither disappointed, but tiredness quickly overcame us and we went 'home' to our tents and took power naps. 

Once shaking ourselves and getting ready, we headed to the chilled-out Trenchtown, before going to Croí and sitting around a campfire. We saw the iconic Wolfe Tones, who got the crowd rocking, and the glamourous Kylie Minogue who performed in a silver tracksuit shortly after. 

There was so much that we missed which I would have liked to see, such as Faithless, RAYE, Gerry Cinnamon and Peggy Gou, as well as the Saw Doctors and Kasabian, to name but a few.

There were also an abundance of other activities available to people on-site, including yoga classes, the opportunity to swim in the lake surrounded by the family campsites and even cooking tutorial classes.

We were blessed with the weather and while I was lugging my 15kg two-wheeled trolley out, with the pop up tent on my back and cowboy boots in my hand, there was a smile on my face for the 28 minute walk up the Abbeyleix road. 

See you again soon, Electric Picnic.