Bodhrán comes from the word 'bodhar' meaning dull sounding of deaf in Irish.

The Bodhrán is a circular drum usually made with a goatskin stretched over the wooden frame. It is played with a single double headed stick or by the back of the fingers. In more recent times the left hand is used to change the tension on the skin and so change the pitch of the note.

It only became really popular in Irish Traditional Music in the 1960’s. Previously it may only be heard on St. Stephen’s Day on the Mummers or Wren boys.

Probably two of its greatest players are Tommy Hayes, formerly of Stockton’s Wing, and Johnny McDonagh of De Dannan

Click here to see bodhrán's being made

Hear a sample of the bodhran being played

Colm Murphy plays the bodhran with Conal O'Grada on the flute playing two reels.

Kevin O'Connell on Bodhranmaker.com has several other sound samples of bodhrán players.

Tommy Hayes accompanies Eileen Ivers from the album Eileen Ivers (Green Linnet)

Déanta from the album Ready for the Storm (Green Linnet)

See a Bodhrán being made here

Do you want to learn more?

The Bodhrán Homepage has a lot of information about the bodhrán and how it is made etc.