Bg Whistler certainly has a right to his own opinion, just as I have a right to disagree with him. I view the republican song tradition as a contemporary manifestation of the ancient bardic tradition. The best way to stop production of republican material is to bust your ass fighting against the injustices which give rise to it.

That said, I do agree that there is much more to the Irish music tradition than just songs of injustice. Like any other tradition, at least those of my limited experience, there is something there for everyone.