Shock As This Weekend’s Killarney Festival Is Cancelled With Three Days Notice

There was bad news for those planning to travel to this weekend's Killarney Festival, with confirmation that the event has been cancelled. The music and food event had been due to kick off in three days but speculation that preparations were not going to plan began earlier in the week, when the festival was moved from Killarney House to Killarney Racecourse. It has now been confirmed by organisers that the festival has been cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances". "We are devastated that the festival has been cancelled - we did everything in our power to make it happen this weekend," read a statement. It had been hoped that the festival, which was held in Westport for the past number of years, would attract 36,000 people but The Irish Examiner has since claimed that the change in location was down to poor ticket sales and Kerry County Council were recently informed that under 5,000 people were expected each day.

Bad news just in. The whole @Killarney_Music festival has been cancelled. Some local insurance niggle. Big loss to the Kingdom. #Killarney

— Steve Wall (@stevethewall) June 24, 2015

The news has been met with shock and disappointment by local businesses and those planning to travel to the event, who look set to be left out of pocket for accommodation expenses. It's understood that promoters are currently in discussion with several acts about the possibility of hosting an indoor event over the weekend and hope to make an announcement "as soon as possible". Refunds are now available from Ticketmaster.

@Killarney_Music Seeking confirmation of cancellation as I will only get a full refund on accommodation if I cancel now #killarneyfestival — Michelle Flatley (@FlatleyMichelle) June 24, 2015

@Killarney_Music Has festival been cancelled?? Seeing tweets, but nothing official from you. Need confirmation asap if I'm to cancel plans..

— Melissa Moloney (@moloney_melissa) June 24, 2015

I wonder if people will get refunds at this short notice for accommodation booked for Killarney festival? — Donna Hennessy (@DonnaHennessy) June 24, 2015