A St Patrick's Day concert will be staged in Belfast next year after plans to cancel it were rejected by a council committee.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP strongly opposed proposals from Belfast City Council to restrict the city centre celebrations to a parade-only event on health and safety grounds.
The council had asked councillors on the Growth and Regeneration Committee to amend the 2018 celebrations to a parade-only event.
But that proposal was rejected last night by a majority of councillors.
Last year's event at Custom House Square, which drew thousands of visitors and tourists to Belfast city centre, featured performances by musicians including X Factor runner-up Fleur East.
However, a report found "the capacity to host the concert has become an issue of concern in the last number of years".
"The key is the number of people trying to access the concert site after the parade, with significant congestion and safety issues at the intersection of High Street, Victoria Street and Queen's Square/Custom House Square," it read.
"It is expected that the level of congestion will increase significantly given that the 2018 event will be staged on a Saturday".
The report added that "the best way to improve the St Patrick's Day event would be the upscaling of the parade".
Meanwhile, the DUP has criticised plans to give an extra £20,000 in funding for St Patrick's Day celebrations in Strabane, Co Tyrone.
The funding from Derry City & Strabane District Council is aimed at expanding the celebrations.
