The craic of the backroom pub session remains a ritual in Irish folk music and has ensured an astonishing supply of talented performers who have gone on to conquer the globe, making it hard to believe that, when The Chieftains and The Dubliners emerged more than half a century ago, Irish traditional music was feared to be an endangered species.

Since then the Celtic tiger has roared melodiously, not only in Ireland but also in Scotland, where an inventive and vital new generation has superseded the hoary old image of pipe bands and kilted country dance singers, and in Wales, where a vibrant revival of folk traditions is underway.