A Chinese poet who was billed as one of the stars of the ninth annual arts and politics Féile na Bealtaine festival to be held next weekend in Dingle, Co Kerry, has been asked not to attend because of fears over the SARS virus.
This is despite the fact that Ms Zhang Ye resides and teaches in Shanghai, which is not a WHO listed area of infection, and that the poet is in good health.
Dr Micheal Fanning, a general practitioner in Dingle, and the Director of Féile na Bealtaine, said the festival's committee had taken the decision over the weekend to ask Ms Ye, a poet and associate professor of literature at the University of Shanghai, not to travel.
He said the decision was taken because of the growing concern "and worldwide alarm" about SARS. Ms Ye had been very understanding about the committee's decision, he said.
They were sorry to have to take such a decision, Dr Fanning added.
However the committee felt they could not take responsibility for Ms Ye's well-being and health, Dr Fanning explained.
As Féile na Bealtaine was a community festival, the committee also felt responsible for the well-being of the community in "the very unlikely event should anyone contact SARS", he added.
A devout Buddhist, Ms Ye is well known in China for her lyrical and abstract poetry, but her work is little translated internationally.
Waterville poet Dr Paddy de Buis is one of the few to have translated some of her poetry into English. He is currently working on a volume of her work.
Yesterday he said he was disappointed she was not coming - he had planned to also take her to Strokestown poetry festival in Co Roscommon. Ms Ye visited Ireland two years ago as part of a writers' exchange.
Other Chinese artists will participate in this year's festival which takes 'Far East Culture and Politics' as its theme. They include the musicians, the Guo Brothers, who reside in London.
The Chinese ambassador, Mr Sha Hailin, is also expected to attend the festival's political symposium which will examine the effectiveness of the United Nations. As none of the Chinese participants, other than Ms Ye, reside in China, there is no concern over their attendance, Dr Fanning said.