Red faces as EU concert cut

THE international concert in Dublin on May 1 that was to be the centrepiece of the Irish EU Presidency was last night cancelled, amid much embarrassment for RTÉ and the Government.

The Cabinet yesterday decided to cancel the €1.5 million 'A Beautiful Night' concert on O'Connell Street after it became clear its city centre location would pose huge problems for co-producers RTÉ and the BBC.

Organising the concert would have entailed severe traffic restrictions on Dublin's main thoroughfare for nine days before the event.