Surely the promotion of Irish Dance,the creation of worldwide interest in Irish music and the children now thinking their traditional dance is cool is proof enough of the success of this stage production.It has also for the first time provided employment for traditional Irish dancers.
It must be raising the standard of dance in Ireland,even though the hands may be in the wrong place.
It would be impossible to please the pure tradition lovers, but many move on from interest to pure tradition.
This was exactly the reaction from certain people during the rise of interest in English Folk music, it was the traditionalist trying to ram thirty verse tunes down the throats of the general public that eventually drove them away.Luckily the radio stations in Ireland provide balanced programmes which includes their traditional music.
We had our chance a blew it.
Al