Ireland 'third in the bluegrass world'!

The bluegrass year starts with Ireland making a good showing - the January 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine contains the annual festival guide, with well over 500 events listed throughout the world. The great majority of these are naturally in the USA, with Canada coming second. Under the heading 'Ireland', however, the details of six festivals are listed, making Ireland apparently the most bluegrass-oriented country in the world outside North America!

We say 'apparently' advisedly. BU can only print the information it receives, and this is far from a complete list even of European festivals. Many more could have been entered from all countries, and the British festivals are split up under separate headings for 'England', 'North Wales', and 'Scotland'. Nonetheless, credit where credit is due - among festival organisers outside North America who took the trouble to enrol on the BU list, those from Ireland take the lead position. Congratulations, all!