Why?
Because as well as being bloody good entertainment it also contains a huge part of our history and unwritten culture, largely unavailable elsewhere - not to everybody's interest, but.....
On a more down-to-earth note; try telling the man who doles out the grants "well, I can't really define it; I don't go in much for definitions - but give us the money anyway".
Paul, stopped singing around the time I stopped going to the clubs.
Be happy to provide you with lists of songs that were performed at The Singers, and other clubs I have been involved with - when I get back from Dublin - going to hear a couple of bothy singers there tomorrow.
Jim Carroll