Steve,have a listen to pip murphy,he sometimes played melody and chords,while playing irish tunes.
With Irish music there is room for plenty of different styles,melodies and chords are what irish music is about,just as much as single note melody,variety is the spice of life.
[Melodies is what Irish music is all about, not chords, old chap.]quote Steve Shaw.
that really is patronising.
music is music whether its Irish,Scottish,American,chords suit all kinds of music the secret is knowing which chords to use and which notes to leave out,and when to use and when not to use.
that statement of yours reminds of the sort of rubbish that is talked on the session,by people like yourself and that twerp llig leahcim.
irish music when analysed uses about four modes,the major key the dorian, the mixolydian,and the aeolian,for a start most of the tunes in the major key fit well with chords.
check out some of the scottish mouthies,playing some of the tunes you claim to be irish,and you will find that your statement is not true.
here are some to be getting along with that do work with chords on the harmonica,Pretty Maggie Morrissey,Mcleods Reel.Greencastle Hornpipe,Father Kellys.Heather breeze
Finally I would like to quote from the sleeve notes of Trip to Cullenstown[phil ,john and pip murphy]he[phil] devised a playing technique ,that incorporated vamping accompaniment.PHIL MURPHY WON THE ALL Ireland three times.
Steve Shaw what you say contradicts Phil Murphy,are you claiming that you know more about irish music on the harmonica than a 3 times all ireland champion.