I agree with Bonnie about playing hornpipes too fast. Here in the North of England there is tendency to play a bit too quickly generally and going too fast can spoil tunes.

OTOH, if you are playing for dancing, you musn't drag either.

Here is an example of superb hornpipe playing from Ireland in the 1960s

One of my own composition. The second tune of the two on this clip: Cleveland Hills/Down Along the Tees

Steamboat again on this clip