MUSIC FESTIVAL OXEGEN has been cancelled next year but has promised to return in 2013.

A post on the Oxegen Facebook page has confirmed what has been speculated for a number of weeks, that the festival will not be going ahead. However, it does promise to return in 2013.

MCD promoters had denied reports that the festival would be watered down to a non-camping event at the Phoenix Park in Dublin last month but it has confirmed the decision to cancel this year’s event at Punchestown Racecourse in Co Kildare which had been rumoured in recent days.

The rumours partly came about due to the announcement that The Stone Roses would play the Phoenix Park on 5 July, the day before the festival would traditionally have been expected to get underway.

In a statement posted to Facebook this morning, Oxegen said:

OXEGEN, like Glastonbury, is taking a year off in 2012 and will be back July 2013. Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas & peaceful New Year. Keep Rockin’ in 2012 and we will see you in 2013! Your Oxegen Team.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie this morning Naas Town councillor Alan O’Kelly said the decision to cancel this year’s festival was a blow to the local economy.

It’s obviously a big loss to the area. It’s not just festival itself, it’s people coming through the town which is a big boost to the town. It’s a terrible loss.