THE organisers of the Féile an Phobail festival have apologised for any offence caused by the booking of comedian Frankie Boyle in west Belfast.
However they won't be cancelling Boyle's appearance and have confirmed that after talks with protestors, most opposition to the show has been withdrawn.
It is widely believed that the cancellation of the show could have bankrupt the festival.
Some 2,000 tickets have already been sold for the gig on August 7.
The group opposed to the controversial comedian’s performance, Féile for Everyone, claimed it was unacceptable for Boyle to appear because of his jokes about Down syndrome people.
The organisers of Féile an Phobail said they had taken the criticism levelled at them "extremely seriously", adding that they "appreciate that there has been a deep sense of hurt caused with the booking".
They said the organisation would put in place measures "to avoid a situation like this arising in the future".
Gerry Adams has been involved in the dispute over Féile an Phobail’s organisers’ right to invite Boyle, insisting the organisers never intended to insult anyone.
Féile an Phobail now confirm an undertaking exists on the part of Féile management to represent the concerns to Boyle's management.
They said, "Both parties are acutely aware of the difficulties that the event has created, and are committed to working together in future to ensure that Féile an Phobail remains fully inclusive and can be enjoyed in its fullest by all sections of the community.”
After the talks the protestors said they would disband and cancel protests they had been mounting outside the festival’s office on Falls Road.
However, the former spokesman from the group John Lundy is continuing to oppose Boyle's appearance.
The row focuses on a routine Boyle performed in 2010.
The comedian, performing at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre, spoke about children with Down syndrome children, referring to them as “Mongoloids” and joking that they were destined for an early death.
In the audience he spotted Mrs Smith exchanging words with someone and asked why she was talking. Mrs Smith, reportedly said, “Well, my daughter is five and she has Down’s syndrome and we are upset by some of your comments. Instead of saying he was sorry, he said, 'Oh, well, it’s all true, isn’t it?’”
She added that Boyle described it as “the most excruciating moment of his career” before saying “we had paid to come and see him and that’s what should we expect”.
Frankie Boyle was born and brought up in Glasgow to Irish parents from Co. Donegal.
