The English Folk music scene also encouraged and gave self confidence to many Irish musicians
ha ha ha

Brian Finnegan and Mick McGoldrick, for two, have managed pretty successful careers while mainly being based in England.

Contrariwise, can you think of even one English musician who's managed to make a career of playing English music in Ireland?

England has always been reasonably open to other people's folk music. Could do better, but then who couldn't?