Hi Jim
'We have found that wherever there has been a rich recognised-folk tradition this has been accompanied by an equally rich locally composed anonymous tradition of songmaking, distinguishable only by the fact that collectors either missed it or rejected it because it didn't fit the perceived folk repertoire.'

I can identify with this, Jim, but I still don't agree that this was the case in 19th century southern England, so the only word I would quibble over in your statement is 'equally'. That may well have been the case in 20th century Ireland. As I've said before in my own collecting experiences I have come across plenty of song writers, but for whatever reason their songs haven't made it into oral tradition. I don't think that the earlier collectors knew enough about the songs they were collecting to distinguish between locally written pieces and the widespread broadside and theatrical pieces. Yes they discriminated but that was usually to the extent that they tried not to include parlour songs, national songs and Music Hall pieces.
You've only to look at the repertoires of Henry Burstow and Arthur Howard to be aware that they had massive wide-ranging repertoires and what we call folk songs were only a small part of the whole.

'.....any attempt to link them with printed versions is really not worth the paper it is printed on.' This is just silly, Jim.