So far as saxophone goes, I was thinking mostly in terms of the balance between ornamentation and rhythmic emphasis; typically (I realise that this is a generalisation and there are plenty of exceptions) recent Irish tradition tends to place more weight on the former and less on the latter than does its English equivalent, though what we know of older styles suggests that this is a relatively recent divergence. The English brass tradition also has some bearing, perhaps; although saxophone is technically a woodwind, the sound has much in common with brass. In theory it should be no more difficult to play an ornamented reel on saxophone that it is on a fully keyed flute (as opposed to the unkeyed variety); perhaps it just isn't very common yet. As I expect you know, saxophone and pipes can make an impressive combination in the right hands.

To return to the concertina. Muiris O Rócháin (sleevenotes, Clare Concertinas, Topic 12TFRS502, 1975) reckoned that it (he presumably meant Anglo system) was generally considered a woman's instrument in Clare up until the 1940s, when the men started to take it up and rapidly became the majority. It would be interesting to know if there was a significant shift in playing styles at that time. Is that something you can comment on?