pfr, i am sorry but i have to reply to misrepresentation of what i said or did not say,My POINTS AND conclusions were that it is DIFFERENT.
the future in ireland comes in to this because and as a result of the efforts of irish government and arts funding and mainstream media representation. plus the efforts of the piper society [wilie clancy school] and CCE, PLUS the efforts of numerous musicians/ teachers who go into primary schools and teach trad music on instruments[ whistle] to school children,
my whole point is that the situation is different in ireland to the uk. as Jim Carroll pointed out when it comes to snging tradtional ballds, that is difficult a lot of the time in pubs, that is as i understand it why unaccompanied singers clubs exist in ireland.
I am talking about 2020 PFR. This is what is happening in THE MAINSTREAM MEDIAin May 2020 in ireland
I do think it would be an improvement if there was more tradtional and roots music on the uk radio stations.
I am happy to play with musicans of all nationalities playing irish or scottish or english trad music or song,
Jim Bainbridge[ who i know is not racist] seems to be getting unduly concerned about the nationalities of musicians,I am an internationlist and am just pleased that a people[of all nationalities] are playing trad music and songs in this area. of course the area where INSTRUMENTAL TRAD MUSIC it is strongest is CoClare.
Ballydehob and West Cork are doing ok, though we have the Ballydehob trad music which occurs in april, the Fastnet marituime and Folk Festival in June, Chief ONeill Festival Sept IN Bantry, Fiddle Fair IN June Jim Dowling Uilleann Pipe and Trad Festival IN JUNE . ALL IN WEST CORK and four out of those five are run by irish organisers.
    but the really important people are the music teachers who teach trad music in primary schools that is one of the reasons why the future of instrumental trad music looks ok in ireland plus the state and arts funding and subsidised non commercial media exposure
PFR. There was a jesuit saying get them before the age of 8 and there yours for life
Jim Bainbridge do you remember Liam Kennealy [IRISH] who you used to do gigs with and who used to run the Ballydehob session for years,he sends his regards