Can't see the finger in the ear as being a factor really - it's hardly a particularly English thing. Moreover anyone who thinks it's just an affectation has obviously never tried singing unaccompanied in a crowded environment. It's the only way you can hear yourself, and hearing what you sound like is quite a good idea for a singer.

There are two separate questions being mixed up here. One is why folk music of any is often not valued by that many people, especially young people. The other question is why so many people who are drawn to folk music ignore the traditions of their own locality, in favour of music from far away, especially perhaps Irish music. And that isn't particularly English - in fact it's probably less true in England than it is in many European countries.

And it doesn't do just to say that Irish music is better than the others (though it's tempting) - pretty well every country and region has great stuff there, ignored. We've had threads on the Mudcat about people lookig for music sessions in all sorts of places, and the answers all seem to be about Irish sessions in Stavanger and Hong Kong and Vladivostock and all. (I may exaggerate slightly here. But probably not.)