The committee says the development of Dublin's docklands meant the usual site was unavailable. The DDDA denies this and claims the organisers could not get sponsorship for the event.

"It was decided months and months ago, " said a spokeswoman for the festival. "The site down in the docklands is under development. Physically, we can't have the firework display down there for health and safety reasons and logistics."

But a spokeswoman for the DDDA said: "they didn't get sponsorship, it's nothing to do with space or anything like that."

The Skyfest has been labelled the highlight of the festival, with extensive sponsorship . . . last year from 7Up . . . a live radio broadcast and a widespread advertising campaign in the run-up to the festival. Last year, around 100,000 people gathered around the river Liffey to watch the fireworks display.

Aebhric McGibney, policy director for the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, expressed his disappointment when he learned from the Sunday Tribune that the popular event had been cancelled.

"All of the festival is a good promotion for Dublin. It's a pity that the Skyfest is not going ahead because the St Patrick's Day week-long activities provides a range of events for people to come into and enjoy the city. . . it's a shame it's not happening."

Instead of the fireworks display, there will be a nightly aerial acrobatic show in Smithfield, sponsored by GE Money. The organisers claim they are currently looking for another suitable location to hold next year's Skyfest.

"It may happen that it continues along the river, but would be more to the northside or more to the southside, " a festival spokeswoman said. "It's an essential part of St Patrick's Festival, so we wouldn't be looking at moving it out of the city centre. A lot of the buildings provide amazing backdrops."

Around the world, many St Patrick's Day celebrations will be stealing a march on Ireland by going ahead this weekend. The Rossport Five were invited to participate in San Francisco's parade; two of the men, Michael O Seighin and Vincent McGrath, accepted the invitation and flew to the United States last week. They will lead the city's parade as honorary grand marshals today.

The five were given the invitation by the event organisers, the United Irish Societies of San Francisco, an organisation dedicated to "preserving and perpetuating the democratic principles of the Irish people".

Michael O Seighin said it was an honour to be invited and that it had no political implications.

"It is just a recognition of our stand, " he said. "It is just straightforward community recognition. We are delighted.

This can only help our campaign and what we stand for, which is safety."