This doesn't invalidate Shirky's point. It just changes the plot of the story: Once, the Irish had free time to make music. Then modern industrial society took

This doesn't invalidate Shirky's point. It just changes the plot of the story: Once, the Irish had free time to make music. Then modern industrial society took that time away. Now it's being taken back -- to make music (and LOLcats and Wikipedia entries and WoW characters).