"In case anyone might think from what Jim and Dick have written above that all is fine and dandy in the Irish music scene"
Never said it was.
The point I made is that the progress made over the last twenty years has been built on the solid foundation of the tradition - youngsters listening to the older singers, no competitions, no attempting to re-define (or, in the case of the U.K. un-define the meaning of the words "folk" or "tradition") - just progress based on the roots of what has gone before - you have examples of what is happening - many, many more of the same to be had played by enthusiastic youngsters.
Wheter the youngsters stick with what they've learned, or decide t's not for them, remains to be sees, but at the moment there is a healthy scene with the chance of a health future.
I have to say, I watched the final of the three programmes on the singing revival in Northern Ireland with some despair - the same old dead-end approach - experimentation and career chasing.
We'll see!!
Jim Carroll