Interesting sub-thread here about whether to use dialect or accents appropriate to the song. My own view is that using the appropriate accent for a song is fine, providing the singer takes the trouble to learn to speak the accent properly. For many people, this isn't hard to do, it just takes time and study, just like learning to speak a foreign language does.

If a song is written in a local dialect, it uses dialect words and it would spoil the song if these were translated into 'standard' English (often it would be difficult to get it to scan or rhyme properly, as well). I think the accent and dialect help to provide the right feeling and atmosphere for the song.

I think it would be a shame if people were only encouraged to sing songs from their own part of the country. If that were the case many folk clubs and sessions would tend to get pretty monotonous as a result.