Hmm, didn't the "old ways" (and the oral tradition due largely to a lack of writing) persist in Ireland until about 800-ish after which while England had the dark ages Ireland became cohesive with roads and learning and stuff? I only vaguely remember something about that, in the context of St Patrick. Then the Xtian writers put an Xtian spin on what they recorded of the old ways. Or is my memory scrambled?

More amazingly - Blandiver here asserts that folklore is anonymous and ancient, yet elsewhere denies the same of folk song. Is it just that the former is rooted in his occult vision?