A Romanian choir is visiting this year's Sligo International Choral Festival, five years after another "choir" from the same country used the event as a ruse to enter the country.
This year the organisers are happy that they have the real thing on the programme with Romanian choir "Sound" set to participate in a number of competitions and perform at a Mass in Sligo Cathedral.
In 1999 the festival made headlines when 37 Romanians purporting to be members of a choir called Dorul (meaning "longing") failed to make it to Sligo.
They had come to the attention of immigration officials at Dublin Airport on arrival but had telephoned the then festival chairman, Father John Joseph Gannon, so that he could confirm their bona fides to the authorities.
The group told Father Gannon that they would be catching a train to Sligo a few days later but were never heard of again until 25 of them turned up at the Department of Justice seeking asylum.
Current chairman Mr Joe Kelly was philosophical about the red tape he has had to deal with as the festival hosts its first Romanian choir since Dorul sparked a diplomatic controversy.
"We are dealing with the Departments of Foreign affairs and Justice trying to get the red tape sorted out because obviously they are being very careful," said Mr Kelly.
This year the festival, now in its 17th year, runs from October 28th to 31st and will feature 43 choirs from six countries - Romania, the Czech Republic, Norway, England Wales and Ireland.
MEP Ms Marian Harkin will officially open the festival which features a masterclass for school and youth choirs.
