Three of the four Irish candidates for the 2020 European Capital of Culture designation have been shortlisted to progress to the next round.

Galway, Limerick and a joint bid from Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny - dubbed The Three Sisters - were named by a judging panel in Dublin Castle this afternoon.

Limerick was Ireland's City of Culture in 2014.

The fourth bid was made on behalf of Dublin.

It is expected the winner will be announced next summer.

Bid teams from three shortlisted candidates must now outline in more detail the programmes they would roll out in the event of securing the designation.

