Jim's endpiece -
"there's some of the finest Irish music and song happening up and down the length of our one street town for me to waste time talking to you bunch of scruffs!
Without doubting that Miltown is a very special place when it comes to knowledge of the tradition, could you tell us which of the contributors to this thread you would include in this 'bunch of scruffs'? It seems to me that your targets in the post above in what I would call a rant and you call a 'grouse' are entirely outwith those who are contributing to this thread - and if I am right, why the insult to those you have been discussing with here?

or was it a joke which I have failed to appreciate?