I have heard several stories from people who were surprised to learn that 'some' Irish sessions are very rigid, formal affairs. You do it "THIS" way...and newbies wait to be asked, and acceptance is a very slow process.

Well, I can see why high caliber, established sessions would not want to be overwhelmed by amateurs who butcher the music...but that does NOT excuse rude, snobbish put-downs by anal-retentive boors!

If it were ME, I would have simply asked out loud, in front of the group, what the 'rules' and expectations were, and how they expected learners to adapt and figure it out without trying!...If they threw me out, it was aplace I didn't want to be anyway.