one of my local comhaltas branches is full of pioneers[temperance movement],I am sure as anti alcohol campaigners they wouldnt be too sorry to see traditonal music removed from public houses .
they like to promote traditional music as long as they are doing the promoting,and some of them would like to see it played but preferably under their auspices.,rather than in pubs.
at the same time they do a great job getting children to play music /socialise in a safe environment.
comhaltas is an organisation that is a bit of a curates egg,they[most of them] are well intentioned,their competition system is a two edged sword,it certainly has encouraged a lot of people to play.
but the competition system needs a radical overhaul,their system of marking has produced an over importance on ornamentation,their intention was to prerserve the music [well they have altered it and are moving in the direction of producing a homogeonised style]
the examination system is a better idea[imo].
IMRO like Comhaltas and the EU suffer from mindless bureaucracy.
Dick Miles