There has been something of a deluge of new independent music festivals on these shores in recent years, catering for all tastes in a variety of settings, from the Warp heavy electronic gig-a-byte happening known as Mantua in the fields of Roscommon to the all-Irish showpiece that is Hard Working Class Hero's located right across the cobbled and gold-paved streets of Temple Bar.

Closer to home we've got the newly vamped Indie-Pendence Festival in Mitchelstown and the burgeoning Cork X South West event happening down in Skibbereen. Most importantly, people seem to be reacting favourably to the considerable efforts being made by organisers of such events, while the musicians themselves seem all to eager to get behind the festivals.

Of course it is possible to have too much of a good thing and hefty competition for a specialist market with limited spending powers in these increasingly fragile economic times (not to mention the inherent risks Irish festival goer's run of getting hypothermia through constant exposure to the conditions in mucky fields) means quality needs to come to the fore.

If you're to survive long enough to make it through another year it's important to get a line-up that's going to have a broad appeal to the masses but one that also won't induce violent seizures from your accountant – no easy task. You've also got to learn quickly from the mistakes of past festival endeavours – getting the camp sites right so inhabitants don't head for the hills with gangrene often helps and a pleasant on-site experience for reveller's is often as good as an enticement for returning as any star-studded line-up…because, let's face it, it's as much about the experience (man!) as it is the music. That's your hook right there!

The Irish Green Gathering, held on the rolling fields of Woodbrook House, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, is heading into it's second year and all initial signs are pointing towards a successful and thoroughly enjoyable shindig. The hook? It's all in the name! This will, organisers say, be 2008's greenest, cleanest, low budget, non-profit, family festival promising only the best local and organic food and drink, plenty of lively eco discussions, stalls and films, a picturesque woodland healing area with therapists, dancers and a chai-tent, as well as a music line-up showcasing the best of Ireland's young bands drawn from across the musical spectrum.

Having gotten the first-festival jitters out of the way with last years inaugural event, organisers are confident that they've learned some important lessons and rounded out the Gathering's rough edges, while still retaining the core values that set's the event apart from others. While 2007 was very much a first, experimental effort, the festival led by the 'Lord of the Manor' Giles Fitzherbert, want in 2008 to lay the basis for a longer term, sustainable festival moving towards the objectives of zero landfill waste and zero carbon emissions. While many festivals talk the talk about 'going green', the Gathering walks the walk. This year they've paid special attention to the issue of waste, and, with the help of Feidhlim Bryan, the hope is that they can do an energy audit of the event, which will help to make some estimate of its total carbon footprint.

As last year Nicola Brown will be organising a wide range of stands on sustainable energy and, on the Sunday, of local food producers from the Enniscorthy Farmers Market and elsewhere. Fitzherbert and co say they shall maintain last year's high standard of food and drink for sale on site, with more food stalls, beer again from the Carlow Brewing Company, organic wine and a smoothies bar. On Sunday there will be a Slow Food lunch menu available, bookable and payable in advance. In addition to all this there will also be a new craft area with practitioners at work demonstrating their skill and knowledge, whether working with willow and stone, constructing tipis and bread ovens or doing other things that will be of great interest to dedicated foodies.

The Healing area, held in the aptly titled Earth Spirit Field, features a multitude of options for those of tired body, mind and soul. The programme includes Workshops on deep listening, eco health, yoga, children's yoga, breath walking, chanting, chakra toning, Tibetan gong healing, drumming, ecstatic dancing and storytelling, while a Naturopathic First Aid tent will also be on site for the recovery and care of your health requirements with Medicinal Herbalism, Homeopathy, Kineisiology and Bach Flower Remedies available for those that might require them.