A few (maybe 20)years ago I competed in the newly composed section at the All Ireland Fleadh. I wasn't placed as I composed it on a Napoleonic theme and not a modern one, but a few years later (maybe 10) I was listening to the mens senior singing competition and was surprised to hear my song being sung. The adjudicator (a singer of long standing and high regard) commented on the choice of songs of this singer and said (Quote) "This is a fine choice of traditional ballad" Later I pointed out to this adjudicator that I composed this ballad ten years earlier and he said, what is wrong with that? A traditional ballad does not have to be hundreds or even tens of years old to be traditional, it's the style and theme its composed and sung in. Hope this is of some help to the thread.