The future of the internationally renowned Rose of Tralee Festival was in grave doubt tonight after organisers admitted they needed to raise €250,000 by the weekend to keep it afloat.
Ms Siobhan Hanley, the event's chief executive, said she had received no guarantees of financial support, while a government spokesman said no tourism funds were available to clear the event's debts.
He said almost €550,000 had been allocated to the festival since December 2001.
The contest, which is in its 46th year, costs around €1 million to stage and attracts over 200,000 visitors who spend an estimated €25 million in the Kerry town.
The winner of last year's competition was homegrown Dublin Rose, Ms Orla Tobin, but previous victors have hailed from countries across the world including the US, Australia and Italy.
Ms Hanley said that unless the money could be raised by the weekend, she would have to inform the festival's directors that attempts to save the company have failed.
The festival directors would then have to decide whether or not to put the company into liquidation, she added.
PA