@Tattie Bogle : "And now answering Lang Johnnie Mor: there ARE branches of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in Scotland, notably the long-established (35 years) Glasgow branch which has spawned many brilliant players of Irish music".
I never asked any question about Comhaltas branches in Scotland, about which I may know more than you. The late great fiddler Jimmy McHugh established the first branch of Comhaltas outside the island of Ireland in Glasgow in 1957, so where do you get your "35 years" from ?
The fact remains, we have nothing at all here in Scotland to compare with Comhaltas. Ireland is a country which promotes with government funding, and is proud of its' traditional music in a way we can only look on with envy. Would that it were not so.