I don't know much about Irish music, but I do know a lot about Folk music which if I remember Irish music is a part of. One of the lessons I learn along time ago is that every artist has his/her own stile and thats what make Great Music. If we all did everything the same,you would never have an artist re-release a song thats been done before. There would be no reason to as it would sound about the same. Part of becoming a good artist is to develop you own stile of playing and song interruption. I know how you feel about some jerk putting you down, it's happened to me before, but remember, If you love the music and your audience, be it 1 or 100, like what you do and I find 99% of the time they do, then JUST DO IT. Every musician make mistake and all of us learn new thing that we don't do well at first. But if you love it, you will keep working on it until YOU are Satisfied and then you know what, most everyone else will be too. (except some pompous ass who forgot what the fun of music is all about).

Play On !!! DJ