The Rose of Tralee International Festival will not be held this year.
The festival's CEO Anthony O'Gara has issued a statement in which he says that despite the development and roll out of vaccines, the time frame envisaged to safely steer our communities out of this pandemic means the event will not go ahead for the second year in a row
Mr O'Gara says since last year's postponement, they have been working on how best they could safely deliver some, or all, of the 2021 Rose of Tralee International Festival events at home and abroad.
He says last year was the first time in the festival's history that it was postponed, and doing so again is difficult for everyone involved including those who look forward to celebrating the global Irish community each August.
However, Anthony O'Gara says they are confident it is the right decision as we all play our part in keeping each other safe and well.
He says the festival operates on a year long basis in Irish communities worldwide, and that organisers will continue to harness the goodwill of the extended Rose family in supporting communities and charitable efforts over the next 12 months.
Mr O'Gara says they look forward to coming together in celebration in August 2022.
He's saluted the leadership and selfless efforts of frontline and support staff everywhere, among them the efforts made by many in, what he describes, as our 'Rose family'.
The Rose of Tralee festival was established in 1959 and last year's cancellation due to COVID-19 was the first in the event's history.
