When we moved to Ireland in 1998 we were staggered by the amount of good traditional music and discussions on same, at all levels, on the media here.
One of the first we watched was entitled, "Has traditional Music Sold Out", a debate on what effect the rising popularity was having on what and how was it was performed.
The most memorable statement was made by an internationally known fiddle player, arguably Ireland's best.
He said that if a player of traditional music wished to make a living at it then he or she had to become part of a group.
I spoke to him several years later and he reiterated that statement; once you become part of the music machine, you lose a great deal of independence in order to make a living.
Up to fairly recently, requesting financial assistance for music projects was pushing on an open door - we were lucky enough to get a generous grant for processing our work with Travellers and a producer friend was financed to produce three radio programmes on our work with them.
Since the bankers put their kiss-of-death on the economy, things have become much more difficult - we have just managed to scrape through support for two programmes on MacColl in time for his centenary - this time with fairly stringent conditions.
It remains to be seen whether the Arts Groups here will concentrate on the tried and tested already successful performers, or will continue to encourage unknowns, as they have done in the past.
Jim Carroll