Belfast has failed in its bid to be shortlisted amongst UK contenders for European City of Culture in 2008.
Despite spending £1 million sterling in a bid to secure the coveted title, Northern Ireland's main city did not even make the shortlist of six cities announced in London.
Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle/Gateshead and Oxford are the six going into the closing stages of the competition.
British prime minister Tony Blair will name the winner next spring, but art critics claimed Belfast just wasn't up to it.
With sectarian trouble flaring again in east Belfast last night, the street violence is thought to have damaged the city's chances.
Belfast-born celebrity Mr Eamon Holmes also put the boot in when he described the city as filthy.
But Mr Tom Collins, chairman of the Imagine Belfast group behind the campaign, insisted enough had been done to stay in the running.He said: "We felt we had one of the strongest bids."
He claimed Belfast may have suffered because it does not boast as many big buildings as other cities in the running.
Belfast Lord Mayor Alex Maskey voiced dismay but urged all those behind the bid to press ahead.
"It's crucial that we do not loose sight of the huge positive outcomes of this bidding process," he said.
PA