[charlie chitlin]

The vocal "songs" are very different fron the traditional "tunes" as are generally played at "sessions" with fiddle, whistle, uilleann pipes, etc.
Check out some Chieftans.
Those traditional jigs, reels, etc. can move like a freight train!
Traditionally, the guitar is tuned DADGAD for that stuff, and much of it has a strong "2" feel using mostly downstrokes.
Guitar is a fun way to play this music because you generally play the chords, so, once you learn to hear the changes, you can play on most tunes.
The other instruments generally play the tune, so if you don't know it, you just have to sit out; unless it's a rhythm instrument like bodhran or bones.
Even the 4-string banjo and bazouki almost invariably play single note melody rather than strumming chords.