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.
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.
Acts including The Flaming Lips, Jon Hopkins and the Kaiser Chiefs were among those due to play at this year's event.
Patrons who have already bought tickets are being asked to keep them for next year, to ease the financial burden on the festival in the coming months. However, refunds will be available for those who wish to avail of that option.
The Galway International Arts Festival says work is under way on developing a special programme of events to take place in the autumn, should restrictions be eased by then.
The cancellation of the festival comes after Galway's year as European Capital of Culture was thrown into disarray by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yesterday, the Government said it would back efforts to rejig as much of the Galway 2020 programme as possible later this year.
