Well the point is exactly that, Al: what's the "old guard"? Is Tom Paley "old guard"? Are McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle "old guard"?

In the long continuum from youth to age, at what stage do the "old guard" suddenly appear?

I've mixed with musicians of all ages, colours, habits, genders and styles over a period of 50 years - all that mattered was whether they could make the music.

Mind you, not all of it was in folk clubs...