"State sponsorship, as in Ireland, would be wonderful if done right, but heaven help us from the Red Army Choir approach."
Agreed absolutely Richard - but it really doesn't have to be like that.
Up to the present financial debacle performers and researchers have called the tune completely with no state interference (apart from having to be nice to the relevant minister on occasion).
We were told 18 months ago that to ask for money for legitimate projects was pushing at an open door - we pushed, the result being that we now have the groundwork for several publishing projects completed.
We are reaping the benefit of the hard work put in by Nicholas Carolan, Tom Munnelly, Paddy Glackin and all those dedicated enough to slog their way uphill while the music was still being referred to as "that diddley-di shit" by politicians and art aficionados alike.
And no Ralphie – it needs much more than to be archived and preserved. If it is to be treated as the performed art it is it needs to be more than an appendage to an unimaginative pop music industry and to be performed and seen at its best in all its manifestations. The breakthrough here was brought about by researchers, academics and performers who took the music deadly seriously while still enjoying it to the full – and they didn't go in for definition-bending in order to incorporate Daniel O'Donnell and Jedward into their terms of reference.
"I'd love to comeback in 200 years....."
Me too - hopefully they will find it as beautiful an inspiring as we did and not in too much need of 'improvement'.
Jim Carroll