Well, at least this discussion validates what I tell audiences every night: "No, I'm not singin' Danny Boy for you, it's an English song. And the words are English in origin. But truthfully, I just don't want to sing it.

The fact is that there is much trading of songs between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and even the U. S. I love reading Irish anthologies that show "All God's Creatures" as a 'traditional' song...mmm, do you think Bill Staines is miffed?

There are some great English fiddle tunes, we did Morpeth Rant on my latest CD, and yes, we billed the thing as Irish music.

The fact is that the Irish steal a lot of music from all over the world...it's their way of getting even for sending so much talent overseas. While U. S. musicians are falling over themselves trying to be Celtic (it makes money these days), if I was asked to play songs "just like I was in an Irish Pub", I'd be doing Garth Brooks and Shania Twain.

The biggest mistake critics or aficionados of Irish music make is that they fail to accept the fact that they are STILL making new Irish music, and it has a lot of country and US influence.

PS. Saying that Song for Ireland isn't really Irish is like saying The Star Spangled Banner was written by an English subject and is therefore an English song...