What is the difference? I remember singing a traditional ballad at the All Ireland Fleadh and was told by the adjudicator that it wasn't a ballad but a song. The ballad/song was 'The Plains of Waterloo'. Mind you some adjudicators at Fleadhs seemed only to like to hear themselves speak. Their remarks on singers and songs did nothing to encourage or promote traditional singing. Anyone out there in Mudcat world any suggestions...Yum YUM.