"In Ireland, the same principle applies, but even more so"
Not in the slightest
As with Britain, pop music in American based (complete with the strange Mid-Atlantic accent) and bears no resemblence to traditional music.
As for a "Sassenach ear" - Irish Traditional music is probably the most international;y recognised in its truest form than any other national music - not too long ago, you were more likely to hear it in London than you were in Ireland - it can now be heard worldwide - this one-street town welcomes wannabe musicians from all over the world once a year for the Willie Clancy Summer School - most traditional instruments and styles are taught here for a week.
We really aren't a dark continent indulging in traditional that "the stranger does not know"
If you want to hear traditional music as it his played here (at present only five nights a week - in the Summer months the music starts on Monday and finishes on Sunday - from May to September) - try the 'Gradam Ceoil TG4 - The Traditional Irish Music Awards' - plenty of examples of youngsters playing like veteran virtuosos
Jim Carroll