Thanks, Declan. Being quite new to the Mudcat and to internet chat in general I was unfamiliar with what a "smilie" is. I've only just worked out what ROTFLMAO means. Fair play to you. I stand by my point that stuff like the Wild Rover is a self perpetuating pain in the arse, chicken and egg scenario. Pub bands play it, punters think it's great irish music so request it the next week. The pub bands play it coz people request it (even if they hate it), so the punters continue to request it. Continuing requests lead to repeated performances and so it goes. If only Joe Heaney, Len Graham, Eddie Butcher and guys like that were as popularly accessible as The Dubs and the Clancys. It just bugs me how the same drunks always ask for the same songs, never get tired of them, and don't realise the embarrassment of riches we posess in our native songs. Big plate of humble pie for me, then. a.w.