The organisers of a cultural festival in Co Clare last week are rejecting claims that a plan to have a tall ship bring a cargo of wine from France was just a publicity stunt for the festival.
It had been advertised that the Bessie Ellen, a 120ft restored vessel, would arrive at Ballyvaughan on May 28th for the Festival of the Valleys event.
Organiser Noel O’Loughlin said he has paid a large sum of money to the ship operators. A spokeswoman for the Bessie, Nikki Alford, confirmed the ship was in France when it was due to be at Co Clare, and that there was a dispute with the festival.