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| Derry fails in 2013 All-Ireland Fleadh bid | Derry fails in 2013 All-Ireland Fleadh bid |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An Irish traditional music body has said it turned down Londonderry's bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh next year because of the threat posed by dissident republicans. | An Irish traditional music body has said it turned down Londonderry's bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh next year because of the threat posed by dissident republicans. |
| Comhaltas said it was impossible to support the application because safety was paramount. | Comhaltas said it was impossible to support the application because safety was paramount. |
| It followed a vote by members of its Ulster Council. | It followed a vote by members of its Ulster Council. |
| The organisers behind the UK City of Culture had been pushing to bring the fleadh north for the first time. | The organisers behind the UK City of Culture had been pushing to bring the fleadh north for the first time. |
| The Ulster Council said it was with "deep regret and long consideration" that it had turned down the bid. | The Ulster Council said it was with "deep regret and long consideration" that it had turned down the bid. |
| Last week, a meeting of Derry Comhaltas delegates on Wednesday night was 13-1 in favour of the bid. | Last week, a meeting of Derry Comhaltas delegates on Wednesday night was 13-1 in favour of the bid. |
| Some Comhaltas members, who initially opposed the move because of the UK link in Derry's City of Culture 2013 title, did not attend. | Some Comhaltas members, who initially opposed the move because of the UK link in Derry's City of Culture 2013 title, did not attend. |
| The bid then went to the Comhaltas Ulster Council to be ratified. | The bid then went to the Comhaltas Ulster Council to be ratified. |
| The fleadh attracts 250,000 people. | |
| The chairman of the Derry County Board, Brendan Molloy says he's shocked by the decision. | |
| He confirmed no members of the local branches attended the meeting, "I got a text on my phone to say sorry the bid didn't go through this time. | |
| "A statement was emailed to me from a Comhaltas employee. It did not come from a member of the Ulster Council. | |
| "Up until a few days ago we were going to go to that meeting and had requested could the branch come to put the bid forward. | |
| "We were told that was not necessary. | |
| "I am shocked, totally and utterly shocked." | |
| The director general of Comhaltas Labhras O Murchu said there are questions over the validity of the decision to reject Derry's bid to host the event. | |
| He said he was surprised by the decision. | |
| "At a previous meeting of the full Ulster Council a unanimous decision was made to support the Derry bid. | |
| "Yesterday was not a full meeting. The seven people who met yesterday voted to overturn what the Ulster Council had already decided. | |
| "Is that valid itself? We're covered by a constitution and all units of Comhaltas must adhere to the rule." he said. | |
| Appeal decision | |
| The Derry County Board of Comhaltas said they would appeal. The chair of the Derry City branch , Eibhlin Ni Doherty, who backed the bid, said they'd been badly let down. | |
| "They should have been supportive of a branch within their province. | |
| "They should have worked with us and listened to us when we have been working so hard all along. | |
| Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson said she didn't accept the reason given by the Ulster Council that its decision was based on security concerns. | |
| "I think the reasons have been aired in relation to the year that is in it because it is the year of the City of Culture. Those are some reasons, but there are other people who have genuine concerns." | |
| Comhaltas promotes traditional Irish music and culture around the world. | Comhaltas promotes traditional Irish music and culture around the world. |
| Two bombs exploded in the city on Thursday, causing severe disruption. |