For smaller gigs (solo in a pub) I use a pair of JBL Control 1s with a Soundcraft Folio Notepad, and larger gigs (ceilidhs) a pair of Bose 802 Series IIs with an Allen & Heath PA12-CP...

It's all down to how much noise you need to overcome, though - with a really attentive audience (folk club) I wouldn't normally use any!

Active speakers are all very well, but it's an 'eggs in one basket' scenario... yes, they are convenient in some respects, but you do have to get both mains and signal cables to each speaker, and if the amplifier dies, until it's been mended you've lost the use of the loudspeaker as well (and vice-versa). That's why we don't have many in our hire inventory - just the battery powered Fohhn and Chaiyo wireless models.

Each to their own!