[caption id="attachment_69430" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Labhras Ó Murchu surprised by decion."]
Derry's hopes of bringing the first All-Ireland Fleadh to the city has been scuppered by apparent internal wrangling within Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
Derry is hosting the first UK City of Culture celebration next year and it was believed that the annual traditional music festival - which would bring up to 300,000 people to the city - would be staged in the city.
While Comhaltas has officially said last week's double bombing in Derry is to blame for their decision not to back the bid, others believe the UK tag on the City of Culture celebration is the real reason.
At a meeting of Derry Comhaltas last Wednesday, members voted was 13-1 in favor of the bid to bring the fleadh to the city.
The bid then went to the Comhaltas Ulster Council to be ratified at the weekend.
However, Comhaltas Ulster Council said that with "deep regret and long consideration," it was turning down the bid because safety was paramount.
It's unheard of a provincial council to turn down a bid from one of their own branches.
Chairman of the Derry County Board, Brendan Molloy, said no members of the local branches attended the Ulster council meeting.
"I got a text on my phone to say 'sorry the bid didn't go through this time,'" he said.
"A statement was emailed to me from a Comhaltas employee. It did not come from a member of the Ulster Council.
"Up until a few days ago we were going to go to that meeting and we had requested that the branch come to put the bid forward. We were told that was not necessary.
"I am shocked, totally and utterly."
Director general of Comhaltas, Labhras Ó Murchu, said he was also surprised by the decision.
"At a previous meeting of the full Ulster Council a unanimous decision was made to support the Derry bid," he said.
"Yesterday was not a full meeting. The seven people who met yesterday voted to overturn what the Ulster Council had already decided. Is that valid itself? We're covered by a constitution and all units of Comhaltas must adhere to the rule," he said.
The Derry County Board of Comhaltas said they would appeal the decision.
Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson said she did not accept the Ulster Council's decision was based on security concerns.
"I think the reasons have been aired in relation to the year that is in it - because it is the year of the city of culture," she said.
"Those are some reasons, but there are other people who have genuine concerns," she said.
