You have the advantage over me there Martin - have struggled with an understanding of Irish language songs via Ian Lee's classes during the Willie Weeks, but like many other things in my life, it's something I should have paid more attention to much earlier.
Having said that, English has been a part of Irish culture for a long time now, after all "we've been together now for - 800 years"!!
Would very much like to know more of this.
My comments on political songs were not necessarily aimed at the 'ground level made ones anyway; much of the political material I am awae of were made by educated activists - Casey, for instance, who were writing them in English by the bucketful.
I haven't pursued the Northern situation either where a bi-lingual situation seems to have been far stronger for far longer.
Best
Jim