Interesting set of acts. It doesnt particularly coincide with my own tastes...I see I only own recording by two of the acts concerned, Danu and Martin Simpson. This is hardly surprising, I suppose, as Countess Richard explained that the panel are drawn from people "from the biz who earn their living from writing and producing, etc". Possibly a very different set of results might emerge if the panel was drawn from those who primarily listened and performed, for example.
    I was having a discussion down the pub the other night, as one does, about the Dubliners. Specifically apropos of these award-type events.Because the intriguing, and rather depressing thing about the folk scene, as the awards draw attention to every year, is that there are no popular acts. Whereas the Dubliners could happily get in the charts in Britain, as well as Ireland, with hard-line traddy songs. it's a pity that no-one seems to be working in a style nowadays which is showing any signs of achieving that sort of breakthrough. Popularity isnt everything, but a little bit now and again wouldnt do the scene any harm..