One of the two tent-only campsites set up for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast has been cancelled due to lower booking numbers than expected.
800,000 people are expected to flock to the city from this weekend for the biggest celebration of Irish traditional music on the island.
Ormeau Park in south Belfast is to be the biggest of the campsites set up to host many of those visitors to the city from 2 August, while another campsite specifically for campervans is to be set up at the Titanic Quarter in the east of the city.
The third of the campsites was to be in Falls Park in west Belfast, however all those who had made bookings have now had their reservations cancelled due to the low number of reservations, a week before the beginning of the event.
It’s also understood some local sporting clubs had raised concerns about the impact of the campsites on playing pitches at the council-owned park.
Campers have now been told they will be accommodated at Ormeau Park, or can make a request for refunds.
Prices for the camping pitches started at £120 for the four principal nights of the Fleadh competition, while a large tent pitch with onsite parking between 2 August and 9 August costs £380.
“Falls Park campsite will no longer operate during the Fleadh because of lower-than-anticipated booking numbers,” an email to those who had made bookings for Falls Park stated.
“With a second campsite available at Ormeau Park, the decision to consolidate tent camping facilities ensures campers can enjoy the atmosphere and sense of community that a busier campsite generates.
“Your current Falls Park Campsite ticket will be valid at Ormeau Park campsite, so if you wish to join us there, you don’t have to do anything, just bring your existing ticket, and it will be processed at Ormeau Park.”
Among the facilities that will be available at the Ormeau campsite include showers, barbecue areas and an onsite bar.
The contract for the booking system and the campsites set up for the Fleadh at Ormeau Park and Titanic are run by Belfast-based events company Nord Events Ltd.
The company had said that they expected demand for the campsites to be “very high” and that it was “likely” the available spaces would sell out.
The Falls Park campsite was to be operated by Féile an Phobail, the west Belfast community arts festival which runs across the same dates as the All-Ireland Fleadh event.
In a social media video promoting the campsite last week, Féile organisers said they were expecting “hundreds” of people to stay in the campsite at Falls Park.
The campsite was to feature 400 tents, an entertainment area and marquee, while a dedicated shuttle bus was to bring campers to the city centre.