A leading festival of the arts and culture has had to be cancelled for 2020.

The 46th Mananan Festival, a two-week festival of classical and cultural music, art and drama, which was due to take place at the Erin Arts Centre during June this year will now not take place.

A statement from the Erin Arts Centre said: ’In line with current guidance and with the safety of our staff, patrons and artists in mind, we have postponed this year’s festival until summer 2021.

’Anyone who has sent payment for advance tickets will be reimbursed in the next few days. We shall be inviting the same artists to appear on the same day next year and the festival will run from Monday,June 21 until Saturday, July 3.’

The festival was due to host the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage and the flamenco virtuoso guitarist Adam Westcott (pictured above).

The centre still hope that the forthcoming Mananan Opera production of Cosi Fan Tutte will go ahead as planned on Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12 this year.