Laoise, you should listen to Tommy Makem's version of And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. ( Mind you, I don't think Tommy Makem would do a good version of "Bottle of Smoke".)

I think much of the Pogues could be catagorized as Manic Celtic, rather than punk-Celtic.

As to the other discussion in this thread, it was Bob Dylan who got me listening to folk music. I had his later stuff (late as in his 70's stuff) and such, and so went and purchased his first albums. I much prefered them as the songs actually made sense (as opposed to his later obscure poetry). The liner notes got me interested to hear Woody Guthrie. Then I started to listen to Celtic (as in eastern Canadian Celtic) folk music. At the same time I hung around with Acadians who were always playing their traditional music (there was a big revival at the time) and so got hooked.

My parents always preferred jazz (which I also like) but they were greatly pleased when I started playing folk music rather than Houses of the Holy. I am also pleased to state that I have converted many a hard rocker in my time . . .