"why cant the BBC promote folksong and dance without having competetive awards,preferably concentrating on the roots of the music rather than revival singers."

I feel pretty ambivalent about the Folk Awards, and as has been said they certainly serve a purpose (which is great) for the industry but I suspect to many of the great unwashed they seem like yet another award ceremony which is down in London and we get a slightly different version of Mike Harding's show (I wouldn't include the young folk awards in the same bracket, as virtually all of the competitors are unknown). I'm not criticising - there's some excellent music and superb musicians being acknowledged and if award ceremonies are your bag then great, but something is missing . . .

I believe the BBC could take a leaf out of Clare FM's book, as their kitchen sessions series does get to the roots of the music. But then here's a real and fundamental difference in the way the music is perceived by a section of the public in Ireland as opposed to the UK. Ordinary people playing, telling stories, dancing and singing in their own homes. These people have the music as an intrinsic part of their lives but are not performers, and whilst many of us here play in sessions week in, week out I'm not sure it's quite the same and unfortunately I can't see a time where there would be an English (is there a Welsh or Scottish version - I'd love to know) equivalent of this show.

Relevant, entertaining and above all authentic in a way ordinary people can relate to. Now that would be a real step forward in getting this music out there.