Art:

Dowland was a court musician in Paris, Denmark and London. He was a professional composer and musician. He was paid a salary by his various patrons. So was Mozart. So was Handel. No difference.

O'Carolan was a composer and musician who sang for his supper. He may or may not have been paid in cash. You can argue the toss over whether he was a 'folk' musician or a classical composer.

Now tell me how this alters my contention that earning money from 'folk' music (use the 1954 definition, if you wish) in the period 650BC - 1850BC was, at best, a peripheral activity.