A CELEBRATION organised to replace Dún Laoghaire’s annual Festival of World Cultures was cancelled suddenly on Friday.
The People’s Festival, which had been due to take place on Saturday and Sunday last, was called off at short notice by the organisers on Friday evening.
In a message of the social networking site Facebook, the organisers said it was with the “deepest regret” they had taken the “11th hour” step. They said they took “full responsibility” for what they described as “the oversights involved in the festival’s planning which have led us to withdraw from the implementation of this festival”.
“As we speak arrangements are being made for what can only be billed as an alternative and consolatory event in Dublin city instead, which it must be stated will not serve as a festival but rather a gathering of those involved up to this point and those who support and understand the spirit intended by the original concept.”
They said there would be no events relating to the People’s Festival in Dún Laoghaire in any of the venues previously notified.
This year marked the first year that the Festival of World Cultures celebration of ethnic diversity won’t be held in Dún Laoghaire since its inception in 2001.
The local council’s decision to drop the original festival, reportedly due to financial losses, was widely criticised. The People’s Festival was organised to fill the gap.
The new festival was to incorporate music, dance, poetry, film, comedy, fire performance and other events.