I was wondering how long it would take the folk snobs to start trashing CW.

Maybe it's because CW really know how to sing, have real musical value and are popular.

As to Irish music representatives, just plug in any country in the world, let's start with America and say only (fill-in-the_blank) is the real representative of American music.
How ridiculous is that?

Why is it that only if you sing through your nose or the back of your throat, scratch out music that sounds like a worn-out 78 phonograph record, and look like a derelict from a local bar that you are suddenly "honest"? Makes no sense to me. I call that folk-hype. (Kat, I don't think that's what you meant so this doesn't refer to you).

CW is helping an audience to understand and appreciate traditional Irish music. As for the so-called practioners of Irish music, many of them are "Celtoids", not Irish at all. And the Irish, just like Americans or Scots or anybody are the biggest mutts in the world. A pure Irish music is absurd as would be the music or people of any country.

Give up the snobbery and learn to appreciate real talent for what it is, not something into which you're trying to make it.

Mairead learned fiddling from the masters, Coleman, Morrison, etc. She just happened to develop a bit of classical training along the way. If you listen carefully to her, she places ornaments at the right place and plays with a genuine lilt, something many so-called Irish "Celtoid" players don't do.

Micheal Flatley was an All-Ireland champion flute player and one of the best step-dancers in Ireland. He made the Guinness Book of Records for being the fastest tap artists, a skill that you don't find every day.

Bill Whelan and David Downes are real musicians who know how to arrange music, and have serious training behind them.

I can see how you might not prefer to listen to CW and that's ok. But to trash them is only to show your ignorance.

Frank Hamilton