Good Soldier Schweik: while I agree that there can be some danger of uniformity with the competitions, if you go to the Fleadh any year you can hear the diversity of styles being played. On top of that, many of these kids go on to be top adult players and to teach the next generation. And they play in sessions, of which there is an abundance almost everywhere in the country. When I lived in England you had to go looking for folk music; in Ireland traditional music almost comes looking for you.