The charitable objects also include "and other folk music", so its scope does go beyond just English music. Nevertheless it seems clear that is where its focus should lie.

I think it's probably broad enough for a bal to be covered by EFDSS insurance. However if I were running an club formed expressly to put on events of non-English folk I think I would want to seek confirmation from the insurers.

It's not clear whether the name change also represents a change of direction (or perhaps consolidation of an existing direction) or whether it's simply window-dressing to avoid using the E-word and to demonstrate "inclusiveness".

In particular, it's not clear whether the new name signifies an intention to represent the traditions of other cultures which now make up a significant part of our society. The Society seems to prefer "English" to mean "in England" rather than "belonging to England", so that seems possible. On the one hand, these are now part of English society and therefore part of contemporary English folk arts. On the other, these communities may prefer that the safeguarding of their traditions is best left in their own hands.

No one thinks it wrong that Comhaltas concentrates on Irish traditional music, or that other communities should want to preserve their own traditions, indeed this is seen as something to be encouraged. Why then should the English tradition be treated differently? It is probably more at risk than many of these other traditions, since most English people have forgotten about it, and it is at best ignored and and worst ridiculed. I would feel very let down if the EFDSS decided this is no longer important.