Following the shock announcement yesterday that the Lisdoonvarna Festival has been refused a license from Clare County Council, hotpress.com have learned that, legally, it seems festival organisers are extremely unlikely to be able to go ahead at the current venue, as current legislation does not provide for an appeals process other than a judicial review.

The relevant legislation is entitled the Planning And Development [Licensing Of Outdoor Events] Regulations, 2001, and is issued by the Department Of The Environment And Local Government. From this it appears that a judicial review merely considers the legality of the refusal, not the merit of the arguments on which the event has been refused.

Therefore the likelihood is that the Festival will have to move location if it is to go ahead.

Lisdoonvarna promoters Aiken were unable to comment this morning but hotpress.com have been assured they will be giving their reactions to recent developments shortly.

More news as we have it.