there is a difference here,between when you know someone reasonably well as Paul knows his wife,or when jim is amongst traveller friends.
whereas if I came up to a complete stranger and said you sing very well for a knacker,thats different.
yes I do believe some offence was intended,and it is not the first time I have encountered it in Ireland,it was said in a patronising offensive way.
but to put it in perspective,perhaps three times in 18 years,probably one per cent of the overall comments.
I have also had the tan comment and said unpleasantly,when I inadvertently pulled out sterling,whereas by contrast when I pulled out euros in England,I was politely told that they couldnt be accepted.
I have not taken offence although I believe offence was intended,because I know there are racists everywhere,there is one on this very forum.
I thought the incident was worthy of discussion,because it has become evident to me,that there are people in Ireland,who think it is only the Irish that have any music.,and who still have a mighty chip on their shoulders about the English.
This attitude is ignorant,considering a sizeable proportion of the reels are scottish,the hornpipes Scottish and even English.
the fact of the matter is no one should walk up to a complete stranger,and say your not bad for a woman,traveller,englishman,japanese.knacker or whatever ]
with respect, I was there.
I turned round and repeated,it to a fellow musician WHO IS irish,her reaction was the same as mine.