The country's oldest circus says it is walking a financial tightrope because of the huge rise in its public liability insurance bill.
A spokesman for Fossett's Circus, which has been touring here for more than a century, said another rise would see it considering its future and possibly cutting short its touring season.
"At a time when the market is constricted anyway and we can't raise the prices, it is a serious issue," said Mr Charles O'Brien, marketing manager of Fossett's.
The insurance bill for the circus, whose Big Top is currently camped at Salthill, Co Galway, increased by 140 per cent this year.
Other attractions such as funfairs and country parks are also being affected by the constantly spiralling premiums. The increase in claims generally around the country has seen insurance companies raise the public's and employers' liability bills.
Earlier this month, the owner of one of the State's major tourist attractions, the Westport House and Country Park, said it might have to close until the problem is sorted out.
Those affected are calling for an analysis of public liability and employers' liability insurance costs similar to that carried out by the Motor Insurance Advisory Board.
"It definitely threatens the viability of the circus," said Mr O'Brien. "And we have to compete with acts from other countries whose insurance bills are far lower than ours". Acts such as the British-based Chinese State Circus pay British insurance rates when they tour here. "This means they pay only around a fifth of the insurance costs levied on indigenous circus troupes," said Mr O'Brien.
Last April, circus was designated an art form by the Arts Council, which meant more funding avenues were open to it.
"We are not whining but we are calling on the Government to do something about it because they are the only ones who can," said Mr O'Brien. "If the increases continue then Ireland's oldest circus will have to consider its future."