And more home comforts are nearby - an army of workers is pitching thousands of two-man tents beside the bars but thoughtfully a few hundred yards from the portable toilets.

"Downwind, we hope," a site manager said.

The Sopot Fanzone takes shape over the next 48 hours with an acre of brand new turf waiting to be rolled on the seven-a-side football pitch and a few tonnes of white sand ready to be raked across the tropical beach paradise.

Ewelina Krysiak, spokeswoman for the Fanzone, said organisers were surprised to hear the site has been likened to a scaled down Punchestown or Oxegen.

"It was more for the practical reasons to have it here rather than any connection with an Irish festival, it has the space, but sure, we're glad it turned out that way," she said.

"We have to lay the pitch and finish the beach, but we are bringing in new grass for the football, rolled turf, it's going to be professional - maybe not as big as a full sized pitch but it will feel like a professional surface."

Fully booked, the fanzone is expecting up to 4,500 fans after the Republic's opener against Croatia in Poznan on Sunday.

And anyone having last-minute jitters about burly security a la old school music festivals, rest assured the only sulkies on site were parked about a mile away gathering dust in a training shed.

The Fanzone will be watched over by volunteer staff from the Peace Patrol organisation which is run by one of Poland's biggest fundraisers, Jurek Owsiak, who helps bring in donations for sick children.

Big screens in huge tents will show every game of Euro 2012 while DJs entertain the beach set and elsewhere on the grounds there will be everything from cash machines, shower cabins and bathrooms, scores of portable toilets, ice makers, a volleyball court, security boxes and phone charging points.

Dozens of bars and food stalls will be open all day, with the help of sponsors Carlsberg who are doubtless conservatively preparing to sell close on six figures of pints.

There is also a VIP area were a select group from the You Boys In Green supporters' club have been booked in to soak up the atmosphere alongside local dignitaries.

Three quarters ready, organisers stressed there are no concerns ahead of the grand opening this Friday.

"Everything is on time. We are having no difficulties, the weather is fine so we're not beind schedule and we'll be ready," Ms Krysiak said.

The exodus of Ireland fans has yet to hit Sopot but local tourism bosses have been overwhelmed by the interest from fans on the back of the team selecting the resort as a base.

Dorota Sledz, co-operator at the Sopot office, said there was a huge sense of achievement in the region.

"I think it's pride for the town to welcome football fans," she said.

"And it will help us to make our town known in the world, to promote Sopot, it's small but the atmosphere is the most important."

"The town is hospitable, Polish people are hospitable in general."

And she said a lot has been done to make sure the visit for fans will not force them to dig too deep.

"In the beginning people thought the prices could be very high but now there has been a levelling out," she said.