Lots of fiddlers in NYC - I've met fellow fiddlers here who play Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Old-Time, Bluegrass, Scandinavian and more.

One reason for so many may simply be all those people who learned violin as children, voluntarily or not, and decades later, took up fiddle playing since the instrument was familiar. (I'm an ex flute player and now wishing I had studied violin as a child instead.)

Joe - There are lots of great young players of Irish fiddle around. A few years ago, I heard a 7 year old play as a guest at a concert and she played a set of jigs, and then one of reels, up to speed and nicely ornamented. I think she won the All-Ireland under-12 division this past year. Makes you want to quit...(not really!)