Took off to Inistioge at 6.30.p.m. on Saturday 7th. August in the company of some friends and we all brought picnics as recommended by spokesperson for Kilkenny Arts Festival on Radio Kilkenny. As we approached the entrance only thing on the mind of the security were we bringing wine, they were not worried about anything else, searching picnic baskets seemed to be the order of the day. Why I wonder? Anyway we had our picnic but met this couple Roger Hatfield and his wife from the States and they had a bottle of wine seized by the overzealous security. Look at them above on the left, do they look like a rowdy couple? As you can see from my photograph they were given a glass of Rose courtesy of Ailish from New Ross. Roger told me he has been to Glynbourne and this problem does not arise. As 8.p.m. approached patrons were getting peeved as to what was the delay since the concert was supposed to start at 7.30.p.m. but to most it was clear a VIP area in front of the stage was not filled. some decided enough is enough and took over the VIP section much to the annoyance of the security who earlier had nothing better to do than seize a few bottles of wine from patrons. A few minutes later a slow handclap started up at intervals until 8.10.p.m. A lady announcer came on stating that cars were stuck in the village and the concert would start in 20 minutes....not a word of apology about the late start. This we all knew to be untrue as cars were not allowed in the village. She received the approporiate response. The orchestra was already on stage but at 8.20.p.m. the VIP's arrived and received a loud boo from the already assembled audience. The concert then started and I felt sorry for the people in the standing section who eventually had to come down as the amplification was quite unacceptable to anyone attending and I fail to understand how the sound person did not take the time during the concert to remedy this. As for the audience some of whom never attended an event like this before and could not keep their mouth shut, one person behind me had to dribble into a mobile phone during a piece of Bach. The music by Northern Chamber Orchestra was so enjoyable and finished up with the Music for the Royal Fireworks which was played in conjunction with a professional fireworks display. I wonder do the organisors and security at this event realise the damage they have done to the reputation of Kilkenny by their action in seizing a bottle of wine from some tourists and an unexplained late start..