The REAL Story of the Irish Bodhrán - DOCUMENTARY

The Irish Bodhrán is sometimes described as the heartbeat of Irish music, and whilst we know the tradition was born on this Island, remarkably little is known about how this vibrant tradition came to be. In this first part of my documentary series, I hope to separate the facts from the folklore, and extract the truth from the mysterious tales of the drums origins, which track the very history of Ireland.
🥁 I’m Ruairi Glasheen, and I’m a percussionist, composer and filmmaker based in London.
⦁ More about me: www.RuairiGlasheen.net/about
💻 Lets connect on Facebook: / ruairiglasheenmusic
🤳 Find me on Instagram: / ruairi_glasheen
🥁 My Bodhrán Course: How to Play Bodhrán, Begin Your Journey
bodhran.teachable.com/p/how-t...
Part One Featuring:
Clodagh Doyle, Keeper at the National Museum of Ireland Country Life
www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/C...
Fintan Vallely, Musician, Writer and Speaker
imusic.ie
Eamonn Doolin
Catherine Devaney née Ballets
Aoife Ballesty
Special thanks:
Breda Ballesty at Fagans Office Supplies Mullingar:
www.fos.ie
Book at 5mins43 is ​Irish Country Furniture and Furnishings 1700-2000 by Claudia Kinmonth
www.claudiakinmonth.ie/public...
Book at 9mins07 is The Truth Behind the Irish Famine by Jerry Mulvihill
jerrymulvihill.com/product/th...
Series featuring:
Dermot Sheedy
Ronan O Snodaigh
Malachy Kearns
Gifty Kearns
Mel Mercier
Imelda May
Tommy Hayes
Brendan White
Soundtrack Musicians
Philippe Barnes
John Dipper
Director of Photography:
Michelle Tofi
Camera at the NMI:
Martin Hartnett

[@bodhran]

This has been three years in the making, and I'm so excited to finally share the first part with you all! If you enjoyed the film, make sure to leave a thumbs up, subscribe to the channel, and maybe even send to a pal who might enjoy 🫶 🇮🇪🎶

[@Bodhranbelle]

Thanks for making this. Great insight to a wonderfully versatile instrument.

[@Mindsi]

Would you be able to trace the written linguistic history of the word or phrase Bohran? Their may be a root word somewhere. Similar to when the name for deaf people was Mentioned and I’m thinking that the ear ‘ drum’ and bohran skin are very similar concepts. Maybe we would have to go back to very old dialects but would Need to get a professor involved! Also I’m thinking sieving or winnowing will produce very distinctive audible ‘ sound patterns’ and maybe this is like a similar concept to blues or jazz ‘ call and response’ improvisation for a group of people. Last thought, are any skins or wood analysed for DNA or geographically located? Maybe give you some clues to the origins of the instrument. Is there a geographic regionalist element to the instrument, wonder if we could plot on a map. Idea is there a data base of Irish hamlets, villages and towns? List them and then find names similar to Bohran. Plot these locations.Patterns?

[@bodhran]

@@Mindsithank you for this incredibly insightful comment which I have just seen - totally agree that it’s time to get some profs and scientists on board. Particularly like the idea of a DNA style geographical map of the materials used. Now, where to start in organising and arranging that ..! Thanks again. Best wishes. Ruairi

[@Mindsi]

How about Boith or Both (like Bothy) meaning house and ‘ droim’ meaning drum in Gaelic put it together ‘ House drum’ Quad Erat demonstandum 😀😀😀😀😀 next problem pronunciation!!!!!!

[@maureendrennan9328]

Loved and shared it, as very warm,interesting and informative. ❤

[@eutytoalba]

I'm of Irish descent but my family's been in Arizona, USA, for about 80 years already and before then was from Chicago and rural New York... My parents loved Folk music of all kinds, so while growing up in the 1990s I was always exposed to old Irish music and Irish dance, mostly on television, but my mom plays mandolin and so I also listened to her and her eclectic friends play live casual gigs. It was once explained to me, in the simplest terms, but I never forgot, because as a freedom-obsessed American it sounded incredibly odd to me-that when the English oppressed Ireland, they actually outlawed dancing, so, the Irish responded by developing the straight-bodied "traditional" dance which *legally* they could claim wasn't *technically* dancing at all. So, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if EVERY SINGLE historical "skin tray" was actually CREATED for this very purpose-to pass as a home appliance, just in case the British searched an Irishman's home, when in fact serving as a drum to entertain his family FIRST AND FOREMOST most of the time. 😲 I'll be digitally modeling a 3D-printable bodhran shortly.... and putting a little Celtic/Arizona fusion designwork on it just as a nod to the technological evolution-and panglobal migration-of such an iconic traditional instrument; another bizarre miracle, like the viewing of this documentary itself from someplace that could hardly be more different from the Emerald Isle, of the breakneck-swift Internet Age. 🥰🤖🌵🍀 Sersiouly-then everyone can literally just EMAIL their friends an actual bodrhan. 🤯

[@TinSandwichUK]

There is a very similar instrument still in wide use today from north Africa, particularly Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, called the bendir. I first came across this a couple of days in on my first trip to Morocco in the early 80's when I stumbled across 4 street performers, two on bendirs and 2 on string instruments. To an Englishman new to Arabic music, initially it sounded most strange in both timing and scales but I was absolutely fascinated so I hung around for a while. I couldn't work out the time signatures as counting in 3's and 4's fitted. The string instruments were slightly larger than the fiddles and violins back home and played upright on the knee, where the bowing was consistently in the same direction and to get it to play another string the whole instrument was rotated on the knee with the fingering hand. After half an hour or so a young lad appeared with the tray of mint teas and this fascinated foreigner that had been watching them wide eyed was invited to join them on their short tea break. This gave me the opportunity to handle and look at the bendir and it's owner was only too pleased to show me how it worked and the techniques used to get the various sounds out of it. Identical to the bodhran in construction but with a double gut string on the inside, that when pulled tight gave it the 'snare' drum sound. On the floor they had a small kerosene hurricane lamp that before they started playing again the owner of the bendir I had been looking at said 'listen' and played played the drum which sounded a little flat and lifeless then just a few inches from the lamp he and the other bendir player warmed the goat skins rubbing them in a circular motion with the palm of their hands until, as the skins dried out from the damp atmosphere and tightened, started to make a rasping noise. One looked at the other as much to say 'are you ready' and the reply was a resounding 'yellah' and off they went again playing this by now to me, wonderfully rhythmic music. It reminded me a lot of Irish traditional folk music and a broad smile came across my face as I pondered the situation that instead of me being there, it was 2 or 3 of the Chieftains. They'd have been jamming with then within 5 minutes for sure. I came across this instrument many times in various sizes but never once saw it played with a stick, always by hand.

[@bodhran]

Lovely story, thank you for sharing! Indeed many frame drums out there with a similar profile, the bendir probably being the closest. If you look at the large tammorra in Campania Italy, take away the jingles, and these are also very similar from a sound perspective.. much closer to North Africa too..maybe it came that way..who knows. All avenues must be explored and fleshed out!

[@TinSandwichUK]

@@bodhran In Ireland (and parts of Cornwall) there are dark haired brown eyed 'Mediterranean' type folk whose genetic composition is derived from the pre-Christian seafaring Berbers from north Africa who traded and in some cases settled there. There are also linguistic similarities too in the Berber and Irish languages so who knows, as bendir and bodran, allowing for the 'Chinese whisper' occurrence over the centuries, are very similar. I forgot to mention in my posting, many thanks for a well put together and informative posting.

[@helenswan705]

what a wonderful experience! Indian classical music is similarly strange to our ears. But that's as it should be. Like language and dialect let us enjoy and preserve all these differences.

[@TinSandwichUK]

@@helenswan705 I totally agree with you. The incident I related was the first of it's kind as it was my first time abroad but it was not to be the only one . As a mediocre musician myself, I quickly realised how showing an interest in the musicians or more to the point, the music they are playing, quickly transformed me in their eyes from a passing tourist (and prime target to be parted with a few coins from my pocket), to a kindred spirit traveller and recipient of the genuine hospitality in that country. I became a frequent visitor to Morocco over the following 15 years.

[@144bob]

I'm an American musician. I've been fortunate to have toured in Ireland quite a bit. In doing so, I've become very enamored with Irish Traditional music. And as a musician, I've also been fascinated with the instrument. So I really enjoyed this history lesson of a wonderful instrument.

[@bodhran]

Very glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching, Ruairi

[@carstenbohemus8501]

In Belfast we weren’t allowed the family’s best brass cymbals so we got out the bin lids for a pavement session; not exactly impromptu but improvised pieces nonetheless. Birth of a trad icon- cludach araid. Ats us nai foakes.

[@bodhran]

Exactly! Nothin wrong with bin lids, good on ye!

[@theresewalters1696]

Maybe like drumming on plastic food barrels in the US presently. As long as you can play a beat, it's wonderful.

[@WotanSkyFather]

Can't wait for part 2! I'm an American, Irish and Scots-Irish on both sides of my family, and I picked up the Bodhran and the bones when I was about 10 years old.

[@bodhran]

Amazing! Looking forward to sharing very soon! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@amelied.8561]

Brilliant ! It's like the missing link between the Irish bodhran and the book "When the drummers were women" by Layne Redmond ... just what I was looking for :)

[@bodhran]

I love that book - thank you for sharing!

[@johnstride9642]

I never really was aware of the bodhrán until my first visit to Killala in County Mayo some years ago where I was entranced by it being played in a bar there.

[@bryan8810]

Ruari, this is an absolutely incredibible video. I clicked on this video expecting to see a typical KZbinr giving his thoughts on the Bodhrán and did not expect a full high quality documentary fit for national television! Thank you so much for all your hard work over the last 3 years making it! I will definitely share this one around. Fantastic stuff! Gonna watch part 2 now. 😀

[@bodhran]

Wow - thank you for such kind words. Means a lot, and of course this was a complete passion project so I'm glad you enjoyed and felt it did the subject justice. All the best, and thanks again, Ruairi

[@HimWitDaHair98]

Great to see footage from Mullingar. We found an old tambourine in my granduncles' house that must be 100 or 110. There was a tin whistle with it that's lost since, didn't know the history of it was so vague

[@HimWitDaHair98]

I should add that the drum was found in a house not far beyond where Mr. Doolin is from, coming from Mullingar. (Now are they not Irish directions 😂)

[@HimWitDaHair98]

I should add that the drum was found in a house not far beyond where Mr. Doolin is from, coming from Mullingar. (Now are they not Irish directions 😂)

[@bodhran]

Wonderful to read this! I would be really interested in finding out more, and of course my research is ongoing, so if you'd be interested in getting in touch, I would love to chat with you about it! My email is on my website ( youtube wont let me link!) All the best and thanks for watching, Ruairi

[@malachykearns2593]

Fab to see a focussed well researched history of Origins etc of Bodhran Very cosy to watch this. Full Series ,,,It will All lead to more evolving More playing techniques More fun. More jobs. The Bodhran helps Sell Ireland abroad and its majestic Culture Keep at it Ruairi. I enjoyed filming with you Gifty my Wife loved it all too Buille ! 'Malachy bodhran ' Roundstone. Connemara.

[@bodhran]

Malachy, thank you so much for your kind words and support in making this film. Part two on the way and Roundstone is on the menu! Best'est of wishes to you and Gifty! Ruairi

[@helenswan705]

I love Clodagh's input, she is so careful and so accurate in all she says and does. And I totally love that pretty dress!!

[@bodhran]

It was a privilege to work with Clodagh on this - thank you for the kind words

[@baizhanghuaihai2298]

Fintan Vallely has done great research on the history of the bodhrán. As a flute player who has learned much from Fintan on a personal level, I appreciate his take very much. Thanks for making this doc. Great stuff.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@jenb7756]

That girl on banjo was amazing!

[@bodhran]

Agreed!

[@denisbudbud]

Cannot wait to see the documentary.

[@marymcmullen5150]

Thank you for the video. The sound of the Bodhrán brings me back in time, a prehistoric time.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching!

[@lindaford1230]

My granddaughter bought one for me, so I’m so happy to see the story of the Irish bodhran. Thank you Rouri, you’re a star.

[@bodhran]

Wonderful! Have fun with your bodhrán !

[@redbeki]

Fascinating.. I thought it was an ancient instrument, seems so strange that it's almost quite modern , and I've never associated the tambourine with Irish music.. really interesting. Well done 😊

[@bodhran]

For sure. I think the performance practice is likely to be fairly unique to Ireland, the same way most other world tambourine traditions are unique, or have unique characteristics. The most modern aspect is the name change. The transference happened during the late1950's to early 60's .. make sure to check out part 2 of the doc!

[@darnick54]

Fascinating…..thoroughly enjoyed the history

[@bodhran]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@EoinReardon]

Incredible video lad. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Museum of country life is my favourite in the country.

[@bodhran]

Thanks a mil Eoin - agreed NMI Mayo is a haven of calm, perfect place to soak up the history. Best wishes, Ruairi

[@lamondiola]

Thanks a lot Ruairi, wonderful work. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina 🇦🇷 🇮🇪

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much! It would be a dream to visit Argentina one day - sending you best wishes, Ruairi

[@HistoryBuffSue]

This film is so well done, Ruairi! The research, interviews, photography, everything! I've been playing bodhran with our Comhaltas group in Utica, NY, for about 8 years. I also write our newsletter and can't wait to share your series with the group in the next issue.

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much for watching, and for your kind words Sue!

[@tanglewife]

I haven't played in a couple years now, but watching this has me itching to pick it up again. Currently have a broken hand though so am gonna have to wait a few more weeks. Aaargh!

[@bodhran]

Get well soon! And you'll be delighted once your back in the mix with your bodhrán!

[@peteflute2817]

Class ❤I must start picking up my bodhran again

[@bodhran]

Go for it!! 🙌

[@LegendaryJonesy]

I just purchased my first bodhran last month and love this drum. I can't believe how versatile this thing is. Thank you for making so many great instructional videos.

[@StandingBear-rc5iy]

😊 Very interested, as to where you purchased your "Drum", love these. I am Irish-Scottish, my dream to own one❤

[@lolaost9559]

Fascinating history of this instrument and also Ireland. Ages ago, I was lucky to go to a music festivitie that had a brilliant Irish musician. It made my soul happy and I just wanted to dance the whole time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful research.

[@bodhran]

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!

[@lolaost9559]

Ruairi you have gained a fan. Beautiful video graphics as well. Well done!! And the best to you🙌

[@TimmyB1867]

Beautiful introduction to the history of this wonderful instrument. I look forward to following the story.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching! Ruairi

[@stephenmcginleysm]

Delightful and a joy, the fusion of life and rhythm you can't beat it. 😊❤

[@bodhran]

So glad you enjoyed Stephen, thank you for all the incredible support 🙏🙏🙏

[@lindamacchia6152]

I fully enjoyed that! Thank you.

[@bodhran]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aidikel852]

You should be very proud of the documentary, a story needing to be told. Well done to you.

[@bodhran]

That is very kind of you to say - thank you for watching, and thank you for the kind words.

[@cwstreeper]

Fascinating! Thank you.

[@crazydrummerofdoom]

Aww man! As a fellow drummer and amature bodhran player thank you for this,ive ben playing for 25 years and my irish heritage has drawn me back to my kinfolk drum.

[@virginiaoman528]

I LOVE THIS! Thank you Ruairi for your time and effort to make this film possible.

[@fabiostamato2199]

Man you are awesom. Thanks for the art and the motivation. Cheers from Brazil

[@ottodidakt3069]

Thank you for this channel, very happy I found it 🙂

[@bodhran]

Thank you for watching, and for the kind words!

[@user-ww9nm3tn7u]

Thank you Ruairi for producing this fascinating documentary on the origins of this wonderful instrument, which I have recently become very interested in and started to play after watching your online tutorials. Can't wait to see Part 2 of your documentary!

[@bodhran]

Awesome! Thank you for watching!

[@edithofr.i.emeraldisle5042]

Love the Bodhran!!!! Great documentary. A little of the cool flickering technique goes a long way....I would rather see the photographs a few seconds longer. (Some people would get a seizure)!

[@Edvall973]

Amazing, thank you. I've often wondered about the history of the bodhran and now I know. I've been playing for over thirty years since hearing Christy in Cambridge (England) and now play in a couple of bands every week (it keeps me sane). I'm old school and love playing with just the hand. I'm really looking forward to the next part, thanks a million.

[@bodhran]

Beautiful! Thanks for the kind words, and delighted you are keeping the tradition alive with the hand style- Ruairi

[@tonytricks]

Playing the drum with the hand,for me,is liberating.

[@3ustin241]

I absolutely love your work with drums around the world. Have been a non subscriber watching with fascination. Now that you have a history of the Bodhran series I have committed! Keep this up so informative!!!!

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching, and following along! Best wishes to you. Ruairi

[@mea7cl0ud]

Thank you for this, it's very fascinating. I love the bodhrán and play (poorly) myself. I find the history of the instrument very interesting, and if it really (partially) came from the adaptation of a domestic item then I see a very strong parallel with another hand percussion instrument. Apparently the cajon started life as a fruit box (I have heard from South America, but there are other 'origin stories.') Humans will always be ingenious in their adaptations of practical mundane household items when the 'real thing' can't be sourced, or perhaps is too expensive. The bodhrán is a beautiful instrument and I am always in awe when I see it, and hear it played well. Thanks again.

[@bodhran]

Thank you for watching, and your comment! I have also heard that about the cajon, and would love to find out more about that. Certainly in the old times in Ireland there seems to be a lot of recycling of objects, substituting in similarly formed objects when the 'real thing' isn't available. Thanks again for the kind words. Ruairi

[@ukinguking7013]

GOSH!!!! I needed such a documentary!!! Congratulation for the culture, past , tradition and CEOL!!!!

[@bodhran]

Delighted you enjoyed! Make sure to tell a friend who might enjoy it too 🙌

[@dougmiller9567]

Brilliant Ruairi...so glad you have added so much to what you have to teach of the bodhran...I've learned well from you.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for the kind words Doug!

[@kathilisi3019]

Very interesting! A lot of things I didn't know before, and you have a nice voice for presenting

[@bodhran]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@CardanoBook]

Great job. Well made.... passion and love of Bodhran shine through

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@ginawingrove7061]

Thank you so much Ruairi amazing information on this wonderful instrument . I am a newby and love it, so having this video has been another step on my journey x

[@bodhran]

Amazing! So glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the kind words.

[@Sarah-jd7zv]

So excited to watch the next episode and the rest of this series! Loved your other work you've made and I'm delighted to see others enjoy so too

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much Sarah - so glad you enjoyed, and part two is done… just final bits of post before we go live. Watch this space! Thanks again for the kind words of support. Ruairi

[@forestgrove4193]

That was fabulous Ruori! This took a lot of time and effort to research, and skill to produce a film to such a high level. It shows your passion for the instrument and it is infectious! Thank you for sharing this. I'm looking forward to seeing Part 2. Will the whole series be available on DVD?

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much for watching, and for your kind words! Part two on the way very shortly, final tweaks to be done. No plans for DVD yet, but I’ll keep ye up to date!

[@suzannelooms7658]

Excellent. Thank you for this.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching!

[@dottywinkler2471]

Cant wait for the next video and continuation of the history of the Irish Bodhran. So interesting and amazing to find out its roots. From a tray to a tambourine to a drum! Beautiful.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching, and for the kind words Dotty!

[@Bombadabombembom]

Thanks for this amazing first episode. Your documentaries are always fresh and exciting with load of interesting stories, I can't wait for the next one! :)

[@bodhran]

Thanks so much for watching, and for the kind words! Part 2 ... coming very soon 🌟

[@slowerpicker]

A lovely bit of filmmaking. You’ve brought forward a remarkable story. The presentation is equal parts meticulous and gentle. Congratulations!

[@bodhran]

That’s so kind! Thank you for taking the time to watch and leaving such kind words. Ruairi

[@vegasclimber]

Very much looking forward to more on this. Well done!

[@bodhran]

Can’t wait to share the next chapter!

[@alextripney3812]

Thank you so much Ruairi for all of your hard work and commitment and research into the history of this wonderful musical instrument and sharing it with us,looking forward to part 2.

[@bodhran]

Thank you for watching, and for the supportive words! Part 2 coming very shortly! Watch this space! Ruairi

[@quodlibetful]

I love all your documentaries. You are an amazing artist and your enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you so much.

[@bodhran]

I'm so glad you enjoy them! Thank you for writing with such kind words. Every best wish, Ruairi

[@AliAlderete]

AMAZING!!!! Cant wait for the next ep. I will deffo get my bodhran before the end of the year.

[@bodhran]

Fantastic! Lots of tutorials on my channel to get you going 🙌

[@caitrionaf]

So insightful, thank you for making this and sharing it with us all!

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching, and for the kind words!

[@JF-se5ef]

Great documentary and looking forward to Part 2!

[@bodhran]

Thanks a million! Looking forward to sharing it very soon! Ruairi

[@johnoconnell7526]

Great documentary Ruairi, thank you for sharing the fascinating story so far 👌

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching John!

[@tinchapeltextiles]

Wht a brilliant film and channel, thank you !

[@bodhran]

Thank you for the kind words! 🙏

[@masiano99]

Absolutely brilliant work

[@bodhran]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Leyivo]

Great stuff, Ruairi. So much effort and knowledge. Thank you so much for your hard work and sharing the results. Love from Germany.

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Sending greetings to Germany back 🙏🙌🙏🙌🙏🙌

[@dickendrum]

Congratulations on making such a great documentary film. Well done!

[@bodhran]

Thank you for watching, and for the kind words 🙏

[@the_discovery_channel]

Great job! I stumbled upon the video by chance and really enjoyed it. One thing I wouldn't miss in future videos though was the cuts between archive photos - the flashing of the images was for me a little disturbing. I've liked and subscribed, so now I'm looking forward to watching more.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching, and the feedback!

[@AMDonaghey]

OMG fantastic, if this was on TV I would be blown away at how well this was made. Great job. One of the best documentaries I have ever watched.

[@bodhran]

Wow, thank you! Thats so kind of you to say,

[@robbiewalsh3373]

Great stuff, Ruairí. Great to finally get some in-depth knowledge into the history of the instrument. Well done on the start of a great series.

[@bodhran]

Thanks so much - ep. 2 on the way soon!

[@tramarherrera6685]

Thank you for this information.❤

[@bodhran]

You are so welcome!

[@Kosovar_Chicken]

I play the hand drum. As a Irish American I think I’ll have to acquire myself one of these drums.

[@bodhran]

I think you will love it!

[@MadhuNitai]

This is a really beautiful documentary! I can't wait for the other episodes!

[@bodhran]

Thank you for the lovely comment! Part two very nearly there… watch this space. Coming shortly!

[@MadhuNitai]

@@bodhran finally you shed a light on an over-speculated subject.

[@DanWhalen]

Just occurred to me that the washboard had pretty much the same trip here in America as the bodhran had in Ireland. Both were a common household tool/object going back forever, but by the late 1800s people are "playing" them as a musical instrument kinda just to clown around. then in the 1920s they both got this new life as a full fledged instrument in popular music....and by 2020s, washboards/bodhrans are only being used as a niche "traditional" musical instrument, and no one even remembers their original purpose anymore. You even have that local "ancestor object" that was already considered an instrument. Maybe tambourines were to bodhrans the baskets as guiros were to washboards the cleaning-tool (since washboard playing originates in the 20s Afro-Cuban music in Louisiana, where people would have probably already been familiar with guiros)? Not sure, that part is a guess...

[@bodhran]

Totally. There is plenty of scope for much deeper research about objects/instruments and purpose across different musical cultures. Similarly udu drums from Nigeria used for carrying water. Thanks for the comment! Ruairi

[@profiskipinternational4402]

I stumbled over it ... and this anthropology brought goose bumps and tears of joy. I can't express enough as cultural journalist on my own for radio about Indian classical music the importance to document the history to teach us in our modernity who we really are as a human being and by our human nature. Keep up your good work !

[@bodhran]

Thank you so much for writing, and I am so glad you enjoyed the film! All the best, Ruairi

[@squeezyjohn1]

Really interesting and intelligent documentary ... thank you.

[@bodhran]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Afonrere]

Absolute class. Well done 👍🏿

[@bodhran]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@brucesteele3052]

Informative. Thanks.

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching!

[@bjaarki]

Brilliant doc, thoroughly enjoyed! My partner's had a bodhrán for ages - we're both Scots with Irish background and have been wanting to play more Irish trad for a while now. I've been a contemporary musician since I was a wean with drum experience so been trying to pick up the basics of the bodhrán, will be sure to check out your instructional videos! In the process of saving for a decent tenor banjo as well. Thanks again for the video, really informative and well researched.

[@bodhran]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words! Delighted you are going to give bodhrán a whirl too!

[@nilsbrown7996]

I find her so enchanting. Wow…

[@thierryklein6851]

❤❤❤❤ Génial, merci 😘...🎉🎉🎉🎉...

[@jimokearns]

Had the pleasure of meeting Malachy Kearns this year and thanks to my sister I'm also a proud owner of one of his bodhrans. Really enjoying your videos!

[@bodhran]

Wonderful! Make sure to check out part 2, where Malachy and Gifty are featured!

[@jgg59]

Ruairi just brilliant. I’ve been taking classes up at the Irish Arts Center NYC. Just a beginner here but love this video. Love love.

[@bodhran]

Delighted you enjoyed! Thank you for watching, and for your kind words. Ruairi

[@jgg59]

@@bodhran I can’t wait to see part 2. Do you ever get to New York? The Irish Arts Center has weekly Trad sessions in their lounge. Great Irish pubs around the city. I took a class with a woman name Siobhan she’s from Ballina co.Mayo her surname eludes me right now

[@Sumptayum]

Enjoyed this Ruairi I've been a player of it now for 22 years, when going the mature student route in the late 90s I done a mini audio documentary on mini disc of the history of the bodhran for a VTOS project where I got an interview with Tommy Hayes. My theory to an extent was that the bodhran may have been also an instrument of war or to instil fear. I made the connection between the police using tactics to dispel rioters when they battered their shields with the truncheons or when an enemy army met in a battlefield, such as the Scots with their bagpipes and shields creating a racket, Braveheart comes to mind in that way. Also seek out the Bob Quinn documentaries Atlantean and I presume you've met tambourine player and instrument collector and seller Stephen Chambers and the Danish bodhran player Sven Kelsen who have some great history collected on the instrument.

[@kellymaguire7912]

Great stuff!

[@bodhran]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Rain9Quinn]

So interesting! Wonderful video ❤ i wonder if the gypsies/tinkers -played any part in this history? Maybe bringing the tambourine to the brit isles then ireland? Or directly to Ireland…. Tough history to trace i imagine… Congrats on this great documentary 🎉

[@user-tg5hx4pt9w]

This video is helpful for me,i am a chinese,in China,we use African drums or Xinjiang hand drums . But there are few learning materials on the bodhran drum. Except for some Irish fans and Celtic music fans.Anyway,this video is very good❤

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@webwarren]

"Giving the children... not the best things" to make music with reminds me of toddlers today banging on the bottoms of their mothers' kitchen pots

[@voornaam3191]

I thought bodhran is Irani! Then I heard the accent. This is not from Iran. But it could well be from norther regions of Iran. But yes, you got traditional drums all over the world. This one has been in Ireland for quite some time, I reckon. Beautiful!

[@bodhran]

I also made a documentary on Iranian drumming- you can check that out on my channel. It’s called Hidden Drummers of Iran 🙏

[@johnlockhart5889]

After I’d watched this, i was struck by the similarity between the word bodhran, and the end of tam-bourin. Coincidence? Great video, by the way, looking forward to the next episode.

[@hugsie-music]

Absolutely unbelievable 👍

[@bodhran]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@oferbechor1579]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH 💫

[@bodhran]

Thank you for watching!

[@RobWatt]

Well done!

[@bodhran]

thanks Rob!

[@Super241946]

Fabulous little banjo player!

[@helenswan705]

isn't she

[@tradbodhran7795]

Fair play, Ruairi!

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching!

[@maureendrennan9328]

Very interesting. 💐✨✨✨

[@bodhran]

Thanks for watching!

[@noelryan6341]

Maith an fear thú Rúairí. 😉👌 Bualadh Bos 👏 Is cuimhin liom gurb é míniú le ainim an gléas 'Bodharán' ná 'Deafener' as Béarla, ós rud é go bhfuill an fuaim glórach. Do thuairim?

[@bodhran]

Go raibh maith agat as na focail chineálta - tá áthas orm gur thaitin sé leat! Sílim go bhfuil an nasc Bodhar/DULL/DEEP á thaispeáint dúinn den chuid is mó ag an etameolaíocht. Tá taighde déanta ag Liam Ó Bharáin air seo siar go dtí an Mheánaois ag tarraingt as téacsanna ársa.

[@noelryan6341]

@@bodhran 😉👍

[@angeldharma007]

Very interesting program

[@bodhran]

Thank you!

[@jamesmahoney4983]

Thanks!

[@bodhran]

Thanks James - thats really kind! Hope you enjoy the series 🙏

[@jamesmahoney4983]

Thank YOU, Ruairi. Great, humbling interviews for me, and further inspiration to play on. Twenty years playing now, and getting tendinitis in my left thumb and arm. Ice! Thanks again.

[@liamredmill9134]

Also the traveling shaman drum(without jingles),Indian ,Turkish and Iranian roots for the drum

[@timmyoreily]

Hey Ruairi brilliant documentary. I was wondering what the name of the tune is at 2:30? Hope to see more documentaries made by you!

[@bodhran]

Thanks Timmy! Its called the Gael, and I arranged and recorded it especially for the doc! The brilliant John Dipper plays fiddles, production and percussion by me.

[@bernardmolloy6241]

Excellent documentary. Really enjoyed it + learned alot. Very well put together + well done. However, if I can politely say, I would find it hard to accept that the drumming tradition in Ireland began in the 1800s or even the 1700s. Surely it’s older, with the Tambourine replacing a much older primitive style Irish drum, to then in turn be replaced by the Bodhrán of today. Though evidence in Ireland is hard to find, there certainly is evidence in other parts of Europe of similar drums being used + at a much earlier period. + if that tradition existed in other parts of Europe at a much earlier stage, I would politely argue that it would also have been in Ireland too. The Bendir of course, in North Africa is very interesting (+ having a similar name):- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZrNgZ6wo7uBe7s&pp=ygUGQmVuZGly I reckon North Africa + the Mediterranean certainly is the key to many aspects as to where the Irish Music + Dance Tradition comes from. As well as huge influences on our language + culture.

[@bodhran]

Thank you for your kind words, and insightful comments. I am open to all avenues of discussion that theorise on the drums origin, and any conclusions suggested by this film are simply more to add to the discourse. Let’s keep the conversation going!

[@theresewalters1696]

I agree. Especially since there are Irish and African cooperation with musical traditions. Look at the Irish beating the ground with sticks! I will see this at Irish fest this weekend in Wisconsin as they do annually!

[@PeterCorless]

I was surprised that the instrument seems far more modern than I had imagined. I had thought it would have gone back at least as far as the medieval period. "1820" makes it practically modern.

[@PeterCorless]

The ancient Greek "tympanon" or Roman "tympanum" was similar to the modern bodhran. I have to imagine it's a far older instrument than the English Regency period.

[@Rafael-oi6dj]

Very probably, the drum in all its forms, was the first musical instrument ever invented-not originally for music, but for "calling" or "tapping" If you add small metal discs around the rim, it turns into a "panderette"

[@bodhran]

It’s very likely!

[@AriaIvancichArt]

Go Raibh Maith Agat Ruairi! Have you released pt.2 yet ?

[@bodhran]

thanks a million! Part 2 coming shortly - keep an eye out on the channel!