There seems to be an odd embarrassment about polkas in America for some reason - "the music that dare not speak its name".

I don't think this applies elsewhere, or at least, not any more than for folk music in general in some places - polkas are just seen as one variety of folk music.

The enormous variation from country to country is intriguing - here are three more Irish polkas "Knocking About" "The Brosna" and Where's The Cat?" Seamus Creagh & Matt Cranitch. (Found in this discussion on The Sessions
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To get back to Sarah Palin - here is a clip of a polka band in Alaska