I personally believe that the only way forward is for those who know and care what folk song is to retrench and scream from the housetops how good and important it is
If you respect what you do, so will others, even if they may not necessarily like it
THat is the way air tim and acceptance will be won back
If we don't know what music we represent, how can we expect anybody else to?
One of the great changes here if to have witnessed over the last three decades the turnaround of the music outside its immediate circle of followers
The media now fills its airtime with music it once regarded as "diddley-di nonsense"
Pubs that once body-searched people to make sure they weren't carrying a traditional musical instrument have begun to realise that there is commercial gain to be had from good dedicated traditional sessions rather 'Oirish knees-ups'
Up to the time the bankers ruined our economy, it was pushing on an open door to apply for a research grant or making a CD of your work
Even the tourist industry has come to terms with the long-term draw of our music

It would be lying to claim this is happening everywhere, but it's happening enough to know that the music has been guaranteed at least a two/three generation future
Jim