This topic would be inconsequential if it were not for the historical enmity between
England and Ireland. The crossover must be obvious to anyone who has intensely listened to the music and for that matter, this would include the U.S.

All tradition is broken to some extent and continuity may be real or manufactured and in the field of folk music, I suspect the latter prevails more.

From the standpoint of DNA, scientists have found little difference in any of the British Isles
peoples and it would follow that music would be similar.

The musical diversity might be regional which is a good thing. This is not a national characteristic but a localized one which finds different varieties of English or Irish music depending on which towns, farms, etc. are in question.

Is there an English, Irish or American music that can be measurable? Music from Cornwall differs from the Ring of Kerry or Donegal but traces of similar musical elements can be found in both.

My question is, what is the purpose in defining a national music? Is it a ploy to create jingoist views or to honor traditions from areas in each country?

This is why I think that much work needs to be done in ethnomusicology and folklore still to determine the value of the area music lest it be co-opted by a musical imperialism
involving the commercial music business.

We can start with the background of the song and the singer. I think we have to separate the two from a studied point of view since many traditional singers have sung songs that are pop songs and not necessarily from their own cultural background.

My view is that we define and slice and dice music for the purpose of understanding it
better without losing sight that all music is historically connected as in evolution of
species. If we go back enough time can we not determine that Irish and English music have antecedents that are perhaps a root form?