Events cancelled in Ireland

DUBLIN, Republic of Ireland -- A series of economic, political and sports events in Ireland have been cancelled as the republic attempts to keep foot-and-mouth disease at bay.

Plans for Dublin to host the March 24-25 world cross-country championships were cancelled and the event switched to Brussels.

The Frankfurt-based European Central Bank deferred a March 15 Dublin meeting to a later unspecified date.

Sinn Fein, the republican political party, postponed its national annual conference next weekend in Dublin. It decided to hold a smaller-scale half-day session instead.

National "St Patrick's Day" parades on March 17 have been postponed and 30,000 Irish punters who usually trek to this month's Cheltenham Festival in England have been urged to stay at home and not risk bringing back the virus.

Rugby chiefs said a decision is due on Wednesday on whether to postpone Ireland's March 24 clash with England in Dublin in the Six Nations tournament.

Many organisations in the republic have called off events that would draw big crowds in response to government pleas to minimise the risk of the foot-and-mouth reaching the state.

So far, the Irish republic has had no outbreak but authorities continue on high alert.

The republic has deployed around 1,000 police and troops on the Northern Ireland border to enforce a ban on animal movements and to disinfect vehicles.

Reuters contributed to this report.

See related sites about Europe

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.