I'm firmly on the side of EKanne, FairEllender and randjgc here.

I think the festival has lost focus, even in the short time (since 2008) I've been aware of its existence. Take, for example, the Creole Choir of Cuba (random selection - the brochure just fell open at their page): I'm sure they are an excellent ensemble, but I'm also sure there must be other more general festivals where their offering would have more relevance. I struggle to see any "Celtic Connection" here (apart from, perhaps, a vague exile-creating similarity between Papa Doc and Patrick Sellar...)

Where are the mainstream Celtic performers? Where are the non-Celts whose traditional background has been influenced to a greater or lesser extent by contact with the Celtic tradition? There are, admittedly, a few of each of those categories, but they are almost lost amidst a welter of world "roots" music. By all means welcome performers from other traditions, but let's have majority representation for the tradition named on the tin!

sionnach