This year's Galway International Arts Festival has been cancelled, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, organisers said they had no option but to arrive at the decision, given concerns about public health and the continuing restrictions on mass gatherings.
The announcement is a huge blow to the local economy. It comes after the Galway Races were effectively mothballed, when management of the racecourse said that if any activity did take place in late July, it would be behind closed doors.
The arts festival has been running for over 40 years and attracts thousands of visitors to the city each summer. Organisers says that all concerts scheduled for the Big Top have been rescheduled until 2021.