Consumer watchdog orders music festival organisers to refund customers after cancellation

Wild Roots festival organiser Neil O'Connell (centre), pictured here in 2022 with circus performers for the launch of the festival that year. Organisers had to cancel this year's festival a week before it was due to start because of 'circumstances beyond [their] control'. File picture: Brian Farrell

The consumer watchdog has ordered the organisers of a Sligo music festival to refund customers who bought tickets after the event was cancelled shortly before it was due to take place, with significant fines or even prison time possible if they don't.

The Wild Roots Festival had been due to take place at the of May, but organisers announced its cancellation a week before citing “circumstances beyond [their] control”.