Over the last ten years or so The Arts Council of Ireland has given tremendous support to the traditional arts over here with financial support of projects which would have been unthinkable otherwise and by having elected representitives on their committee.
The winning of this support has been very much a two-way street, with hard work and dedication from performers and researchers.
The gains that have been achieved have brought young people to the music in their thousands, guaranteeing its survival for at least another two generations.
If you want to see material results of the hard work that has been put in, visit the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Merrion Square if you are in Dublin; if not, visit their web-site, where their magnificent collection of recordings is beginning to be put on line.
It is not so much a case of getting The Arts Council to recognise traditional music, but rather one of those who are involved taking themselves seriously as artists. I really don't believe you can have one without the other - try as you might, the mountain won't come to Mohammed.
Jim Carroll