The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169201   Message #4094603
Posted By: GUEST,jim bainbridge
24-Feb-21 - 11:24 AM
Thread Name: PhD on Irish Folk Music and Politics
Subject: RE: PhD on Irish Folk Music and Politics
post- independence Eire involves some very deep waters!

Ken Loach's film 'Jimmy's Hall' - the story orf a returned 'Yank' and his struggle (and eventual failure) to set up a dance hall in Leitrim tackled the church attitudes of the time.

Also, there was the great Leitrim flute player John McKenna, whose US 78 records were brought back to Ireland & much treasured & copied by ordinary folk.
On his return to his home country in c1938 he was treated with contempt by Radio Eireann - not only the church had these short-sighted attitudes, the rest of the Irish establishment was little different- Eire was a pretty sad place under de Valera.

As to why, I'd leave it to an Irishman to explain that....