An old friend of mine told me that one reason Irish traditional tunes were so popular was that at the turn of the last centuary there was a concerted effort by Irish Musicologists and Collectors to prove that all traditional tunes from the British Isles were of Irish origin. Did this really happen or is he pulling my leg?

Alternatively, why are so many tradional tunes from the British Isles seem to be Irish in origin? Were they just much more prolific, better at composition or better at preserving their heritage?

Cheers