In some of the above posts it would be useful (perhaps) to distinguish between "recreation" - ie enjoyment and re-creation" ie the re-making of something.

It is my understanding (from Dick's previous posts, before capital letters were invented, and related arguments from various sides) that Irish instrumental traditional folk music was to all intents and purposes extinct as a folk-form before the Comhaltas-led re-creation. I don't like it so I don't much care but it's what I understand to be the case.

In England it seems that whether there was a "revival" or not at least the Watersons and the Coppers were still singing English folk song as folk song and as the former and to same extent as the latter as folk singers.

Traveller communities both in the UK and Ireland were still I think indulging in folk music (somewhat more cross-fertilised) into the late 60s and perhaps later still. They add to the argument that there was continuity in both places.