Dick, I think we're on the same side really- but quite frankly how do you have time to listen to all this wonderful stuff on RnaG & elsewhere? Have you no potatoes to plant?
    In 1985-1999, when I lived in West Cork, near you, there was VERY little Irish music for MANY miles around- so little that a local Geordie was in demand to play for the tourists.
I remember a rather unpleasant & noisy Irish exile, back on holiday at a session in Arundel's of Schull (great pub, now closed) saying how great it was that the tradition was still alive.
My fiddler pal didn't like him much & said 'Aye but if it wasn't for a couple of Geordies, there'd be nowt here'- and he was dead right.

Almost all of the 'local' musicians who met for the ONLY session for many miles at Rosie's on a Friday had a background in the English or European folk scene (including you and I!) and so if that was the local catalyst for an improved situation in 2020, I'm very pleased about that.
BUT don't give me all this crap about a continuing tradition & that Ballydehob has always been a hotbed of the music -it hasn't- maybe things are improving - i hope so- but please stop all this nonsense about how much better it is in Ireland, it's very annoying to UK residents, especially ones like me, who know better!
I used to get a free crossing on the Swansea ferry to play music & was often told by tourists that my little session was the first decent Irish (!) music they'd heard after 14 days in Ireland.....