A show billed as Europe's biggest indoor funfair was halted by a court injunction yesterday.
Winter Wonderland was due to open at the Carrigrohane Road, Cork on St Stephen's Day and continue until January 17th next.
However, objections by Cork County Council and the gardai that the event would create a serious traffic hazard led Judge John Clifford to grant the injunction in Cork Circuit Court.
The organiser, Mr Trevor Cullen, is facing a £70,000 loss as a result. He is trying to retrieve something by running a smaller event outdoors at Vernon Mount, starting on St Stephen's Day.
Judge Clifford praised Mr Cullen for his honesty and said his instinct was to let Winter Wonderland go ahead.
But he had been presented with factual evidence by Sgt Billy Dwane of the Garda Traffic Corps and by the County Council that the event would pose a substantial traffic hazard. This left him with no other option but to grant the injunction.
Afterwards Mr Cullen said they had brought a variety of spectacular rides and acts from England, including the Human Cannonball, which was used in all the James Bond movies.
"I have many relations in Cork and we were welcomed with open arms by most people. We wanted to bring something special to the city over the Christmas season as there is very little going on here with the exception of the pantos.
"We did not expect anything like this to happen. I suppose the full impact will hit me later but at the moment I am just stunned.
"We are at a loss of £70,000 but David Walsh of the Munster Car Club has very kindly offered us a facility at Vernon Mount. We will move over some of the rides but we will have to go outdoors and hopefully the weather will be kind after all of this."
Things cannot get much worse," he said.