"Ireland has now risen above all that, though there is one organisation which persists in making it their raison d'etre, happily, their influence appears to be very much on the wane".
no, they are not on the feckin wane, not round here anyway, because they have political friends in high places, they get loads of money, and they still are turning out homeogeonised competent players many of whom have an attitude problem brought about by being encouraged to be competitive.
If you go to northumberland you will see there is still a love for trad music, and the same applies to a lesser extent in east anglia.Iwould agree with you there is less respect in Fngland, BUT THE FOLK CLUB SITUATION, a seperate room where people go specifically to listen is rarer in ireland, the result is this.. in ireland   with rural pubs closing, suitable venues for showing respect for words are disappearing, instrumental irish music is half listened to but the opportunities for listening to songs and showing respect for lyrics is on the decline., too much amplified music that is treated as background sound.
as usual Jim speaks half truths and exaggerates both the decline of english trad music and the health of irish trad song, his analysis of the health of irish trad instrumental music is accurate apart from the remarks about a certain organisation being in decline.