NI Music Fans Prepare For First Festival Since Pandemic

Northern Ireland's first music festival since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic is set to kick off later today.

The Stendahl Festival, based in Limavady, Co L'Derry, will see 2,500 music lovers enjoy performances from the likes of Irish folk band Beoga, popstar Lyra and over 60 other musicians, comedians and family performers.

The Ballymully Cottage Farm event is going ahead after relaxations were confirmed in regards to outdoor gatherings.

Speaking on the changes expected at this weekend's festival, event Director Ross Parkhil said: "Obviously the biggest difference is capacity. In 2019 we had 10,000 visitors on site and for July it will only be a quarter of that. We could run for more people in July, but we want to ease ourselves back into things because there are a number of new protocols around social distancing that we have to implement and manage, and we want to ensure that we get that spot on.

"Social distancing will be required, masks outdoors are optional but recommended, while masks in any indoor spaces will remain mandatory. We must ensure that campers remain in their bubbles in the campsites at all times and that people do not enter other bubble’s tents. There is quite a list of things we must put in place and that our visitors must adhere to in order to make sure everyone follows all the protocols, which we will be publishing on our website and across social media very soon, so yeah it will be different but happily it will be."

Stendahl Festival will also return in August (12-14) with a further 5,000 expected to attend.