I was just thinking about that great counter-culture meeting of minds that happens in the Nevada desert every year, the Burning Man Festival. I think that we should have something similar, a celebration of European alternative culture in Ireland. Of course, it would have to have a unique Irish twist.

I propose that it be held in and around a tent-village in a traditional Irish location which is well known in the media, and which has the comprehensive facilities needed to facilitate tens of thousands of participants in comfort (such as the Burren, or the Bog of Allen.

Obviously, it would be wet, rather than hot, and rain rather than sandstorms would be the prevailing weather. Given the difficulty of getting anything to light, the name ‘Burning Man’ would obviously not be appropriate. Maybe we could have a bog-snorkelling contest?