The self-proclaimed 'King of Pop' activated the rumour mill when he unexpectedly arrived at Cork Airport on Friday afternoon on board an Aer Lingus flight from Paris. He was accompanied by his three children and two personal assistants, all of whom were taken from the airport in a blacked-out van.

An organiser for the Kilkenny Source Festival admitted "everyone had been talking" about Jackson making a cameo at last night's concert in Nowlan Park.

"There was a lot of talk here and we really did think it was going to happen, " she said.

"The truth is, no one knows."

The spokeswoman denied media reports that Jackson was invited to play with Dylan by Jim Aiken, the concert promoter. However, Aiken Promotions confirmed yesterday that Jackson was at least due to attend the two concerts, the second of which takes place in Cork today.

The 47-year-old singer is a long-term Dylan fan, and has been trying to re-establish his flagging career after he was acquitted of child molestation charges last year.

Jackson and his family are believed to be staying at the 1,500-a-night Blackwater Castle hotel in Castletownroche, Co Cork, which is just five miles from the home of Riverdance star, Michael Flatley. Some media reports yesterday claimed the singer had plans to stay at the Castle for eight weeks. However, these reports were roundly denied by the owner of the premises, Patrick Nordstrom. "I think I would know if he was staying here . . . I would be flattered if he was but there isn't anyone here at the moment except my dog, " he said.

Meanwhile, the woman who claimed Jackson molested her son has been ordered to stand trial for benefit fraud. The woman, 37, entered a not guilty plea and her lawyer last week said it was hoped the case could be resolved without a trial.

During Jackson's trial last year, the woman invoked her constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination and refused to testify about the welfare issues. She is accused of fraudulently accepting $8,000 ( 6,400) in benefits and committing perjury four times on welfare applications.