When I started out playing in ceilidh bands in the 60s I had a GC30 box and an AD30 box which I got quite adept at switching over. In 1970 I got my 61 key and it wasn't long before I rejigged it to CGDA and didn't have to swap boxes any more. I know I could have learnt Irish style but it somehow didn't seem logical. All my mates played English concertinas. I went through various GDA melodeons before finally settling on a GD Bafetti and found playing in A wasn't too hard.

Rumn, if your fingers are hurting I'd suggest that the action is too stiff. You'll probably be alright on a better quality box with an easy action or even one of those cheaper big button modern models with melodeon reed banks. I've been playing the same heavy anglo for 50 years and I occasionally get sore thumbs but never had sore fingers.