Al - ever heard of the potato famine and the highland clearances - and god alone knows what we did to the Welsh, but i don't suppose it was any better

What does that have to do with the proce of fish? Have you never heard of the Lancashire cotton famine? The Peterloo massacre? The English 'civil war'? All countries have had it rough at some point. I think the point that Richard was making is that if it os OK to have a Scottish, Irish and Welsh tradition, why is it no so for the English? I fully take your point about it no longer being relevant to todays society but it's no less relevant, or less enjoyable, than, for instance, the latest Narnia film or the latest Terry Pratchett book. Why do you feel that folk music has to be relevant anyway? I watch the news, but I also like to read historical novels. What is the difference between the latest exploits of Bernard Cornwells 'Sharpe' and John Kellys rendition of any other Napoleonic sagas?

Cheers

Dave