The folk music grew side by side with the traditional music of the instrumentalists and the dancers. A characteristic of Irish culture is this tendency to absorb other cultures, including other instruments. The bouzouki is almost regarded now as a traditional Irish instrument, even though the instrument has no roots in Ireland at all. Musicians are always looking and listening to other sounds and are blending them with Irish music. It is continually growing and developing new sounds all the time.
Instruments can change as well.
Bagpipes are a good example. S amas plays Scottish bagpipes. The three drones are carried on the left shoulder. But if you visit Ardoyne Avenue one mural tells the story of the so-called Irish bagpipes. An old man is sitting on a rock, playing a type of bagpipes with the drones pointing downwards, across the knee.