"New" participants doesn't necessarily mean younger. This decision has nothing to do with age, it's to do with creating a workshop that fulfils the brief of a ceilidh workshop. Changing the focus of one workshop series in a festival containing around 600 events is hardly "chasing youth at the expense of more mature festival-goers". The festival as a whole covers a wider range of activities and interests than any other festival in England, and will continue to do so - and at the same time it will continue to grow, and develop, and change.

It is not about stifling discussion. The decision has been made and I have explained why, so there is really no point going round in circles.

And given some of your other (quite personal) remarks, including one in your opening post, I'm afraid I don't believe you when you say you're not a regular Mudcat member, "Guest". Not that it particularly matters as I don't intend to discuss this matter any further with you.