Ireland’s Olympic heroes among celebrities attending Electric Picnic – but Leo Varadkar set to miss out on Kylie Minogue
SOME of Ireland Olympic heroes will be rocking out at Electric Picnic this weekend after getting a special invite.
But Leo Varadkar will miss out on seeing his idol Kylie Minogue at the major music festival.
The former Taoiseach was so keen to see the singer on a previous visit to Ireland that he wrote to her requesting to welcome her personally.
But despite having much more time off these days since resigning as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, he won't be in Stradbally on Sunday.
A source said: "Kylie will just have to do without her biggest fan."
But while Leo is out, Olympic hero Kellie Harrington is set to join the 75,000 music fans in Co Laois this weekend.
READ MORE ON ELECTRIC PICNIC
The Irish Sun has learned that each of Ireland's 134 athletes who took part in Paris have been invited to the festival.
It's understood Harrington will make it along following her triumphant homecoming this week, although fellow gold medallist Rhys McCleneghan will not make it as he recovers from his heroics.
The venue will be packed with celebrities who are all taking part in the event in one way or another, including podcaster Laura Whitmore.
Former Dancing with the Stars contestant Thalia Heffernan will also be along with singer Erica Cody.
Most read in Music
Big names including Calvin Harris and the Wolfe Tones will take to the main stage over the sold-out weekend event.
Speaking earlier this year in a lighthearted interview with 98fm Varadkar revealed he first realised he was gay when his friends fancied Kylie Minogue and he didn't.
He said: "To be honest, one of the first times I suspected that I might be gay was watching Neighbours because all my friends fancied Kylie and I didn’t.”
In the letter he penned to the star in October 2018 before her Dublin gig he said he was a "huge fan".
In the handwritten letter published by the DailyMail he said: "Dear Kylie, Just wanted to drop you a note in advance of the concert in Dublin.
"I am really looking forward to it. Am a huge fan!
Taoiseach's welcome
"I understand you are staying in the Merrion Hotel which is just across the street from my office in Government Buildings.
"If you like I'd love to welcome you to Ireland personally."
Despite missing out on the singer's performance at this year's Electric Picnic, the former Taoiseach enjoyed a great night at her gig in 2018.
Meanwhile, Kellie Harrington has had a busy week since returning from the Paris Olympics and looks set to keep the homecoming celebrations going at the festival this weekend.
Further celebrations for Kellie
Ireland had a record-breaking medal haul at the Olympics this year taking home seven medals with four gold and three bronze in the mix.
Team Ireland were treated to a civic reception on Monday at Dublin's GPO after they touched back down on Irish soil.
Harrington led the 10-strong team of boxers on stage, where they were greeted by 20,000 fans who had turned out for the event.
The 34-year-old, who became a double Olympic champion in Paris, was serenaded by chants of "Kellie! Kellie! Kellie!" by her adoring crowd.
Local event
Locals of Portland Row held another homecoming event for the boxing star on Monday night.
Harrington was greeted by a specially organised homecoming on Killarney Street - 100m from home turf Portland Row.
And the double Olympic champion paid tribute to her community in Dublin’s north inner city through tears during her second homecoming event.
In her second homecoming - arranged by Dublin City Council and The North East Inner City Initiative - the Portland-Row native got to live her dream after opting to walk among her community, rather than sitting in an open-top bus – as she did after winning her first gold medal in Tokyo 2021.
The streets were adorned with tricolours, and residents sat in their gardens from early on to cheer on their local hero.
Taking to the stage on Killarney Street and speaking directly to her screaming fans, Kellie said: “Honestly, this just means the absolute world to me. I hope that this gives everybody from our beautiful community hope, desire and determination.
“We are capable of achieving anything that we set our minds out to do.”
