Jim, no one has suggested that you criticised Martin.
Jim you know I play in the uk as well as ireland. i have found when busking in ireland that singing tradtional songs.. they are well received.
   last november, i was busking in Bantry on a tuesday, and in an hour i collected 100 euros singing and playing trad,
so as far as i am concerned pubs are not the only venues in ireland, busking is the most honest form of performing it suits me to sing trad and its lucrative
so the pub crowd is NOTJUST who i need to convince about the music-, but its the real world.....
oh and i still live in ireland unlike you, and still get booked in pubs singing trad and playing trad,
YOU SEE there are more than one way of getting pub audiences on your side, your way works so does mine OK