wow! you guys - thanks! i will be checking these out for certain - including the flamenco :-)
i've just got hold of some stuff by the dubliners, but i'm not exactly sure about this. terrible recording, so probably doesn't do it justice. but i rather like the mixture sound that shaun davey and the mescaleroes bring, combining the traditional sounds with orchestra, or with electric guitar.
i'm working my way through the rough guide to irish folk, so once i've got a feel for what i like best on that i'll add it to this thread, to see if it helps focus the search a bit.