"They keep tryong to slip into 6/8 time, when I jbnow they should be in 2/4 or 4/4 (with or without triplets). Help!"

What I think you have spotted is the odd appearance of triplets repcing single notes ina few bars whilst the basic timing is 4/4 dotted as people have said. The dotted notes give the long - short - long - short jirky rhythm of the hornpipe