Cheltenham's songwriting competition was a special event for the 75th anniversary celebrations.

You may think that Comhaltas has proved the point that you make; I don't. I think these competitions have historically helped to promote very prescriptive and restrictive interpretations of folk song and dance. It's not something that, personally, I'd like to see EFDSS pursuing as a way forward.

There is an exciting strategy in place for the future of EFDSS. I'm afraid that Comhaltas-style competitions pay no major part, so relentlessly pursuing this issue is of no real consequence, Dick. It's not going to happen.

Re VWML: When is the new Irish folk centre in Dublin, recently opened and funded by millions of pounds, planning to publish on-line its entire archive? I shouldn't think it'll be any time soon, as it's a massive and vastly expensive task. VWML, which enjoys far less public support, therefore has some consideranble time to wait before it is likely to be in such an enviable position. Any help you'd like to give to help this happen would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure - but it's going to take a lot more than 200 quid.