The end of an era.
Indiependence Music Festival is to leave Mitchelstown in Cork after 15 years at the venue.
The organisers confirmed the news on Thursday morning and said the festival would be looking for a new home for next year.
The festival was cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but there had been plans to hold the festival in the town in 2021.
Organisers had advised those who had purchased tickets to hold onto them as they would be valid for next year's festival, but have now said they will refund the money "in time for Christmas".
In a statement, the organisers said: “We are sad to announce that the 15-year relationship between Indiependence and Mitchelstown is at an end and INDIE will not return to Micthelstown in 2021.
“This is a situation we hoped would never arise, but we have been left with no other option.
“We have taken the decision to protect ticketholder funds and ensure that everyone is refunded in time for Christmas.
“We have had 14 INDIE Festivals in Mitchelstown starting with three in the square way back in 2006. We have seen the best of Irish and International talent come to our town over the years; we sang, we danced and at times we cried.
"This is not a decision made lightly, it is with a heavy heart that we see no other option. However, this is not the end of Indiependence, we are looking to the future, to something new, unfortunately, we cannot do that in Mitchelstown in the foreseeable future.
“We’d like to thank everyone locally who has helped us over the years, the local businesses, Cork County Council, Mitchelstown Fire Brigade, Mitchelstown Gardaí, David Casey, Pa Hanrahan and everyone else involved including all the local volunteers, too many to mention.
"Full refunds will be available from Indiependencefestival.com in the coming days."
