What Irish Do: The Bodhrán

In this episode, IrishEmpire.org and Colin Carroll meet Donnchadh Gough. Donnchadh is a bodhrán maestro hailing from An Rinn in County Waterford, one of the last bastions of the native ‪‎Irish‬ language. Our intrepid reporter Colin Carroll gets schooled on the art of making and playing the bodhrán. ‪

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

He hits a bloody solid groove there at the end, no nonsense,looked like he was just getting warmed up

[@idrinkwine]

This guy inspired me to learn some Bodhrán playing when I saw him play in California around 2000.

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

Ach fer fecks sake: this was brilliant, and frustrating at the same time. I was born in Ballymena, my Mother, and her mother hail from there. We moved to Scotland when I was 4. - Now - I can play guitar, and have done, in a band for many a year. I can sing pretty good, with a rather deep Baritone voice. I can play keyboard and piano, again, for as long as I can remember. I was in the army, and played a bit of pipe and side drum in the Regimental Band. Heck, I was proud to think I could pick up virtually any instrument and give me 5 minutes, could bang out a tune on it. But do y'know what? - all these years and I still couldn't get the hang of the Bodhrán. Now I don't have the dexterity of the wrists to handle it. So, what does the Bodhrán that I own do? Well, it hangs on the wall....the same as almost every other bugger that owns one does. (inserts unhappy face here)

[@angelasharpe6348]

That's mighty. What a talent. Hoping he can teach others so that this tradition lives on.

[@tonygadaleta7446]

There's something about Irish culture that enrapts me maybe because they were the dominant group of people I grew up with in working-class Australia and were accepting of Italian immigrants - just absolutely happy and warm memories of my childhood in their company and gives some credence to that old chestnut - 'there are two types of people - the Irish and those that wish they were':)

[@pinkmagicali]

Agreed. I love the culture and the music and dance.

[@Thisisspacemusic]

Excellent and humorous video! Donnchadh is a funny and talented guy!

[@coastalphriends4913]

So funny! I want to learn the Bodhran and found this video. As I was watching, I noticed "Hey that guy is wearing an Irish Empire shirt!", then all of a sudden, "Is that Colin?" Good to see your face! We almost met on our way through Dungarvan, but couldn't find a working phone booth!!

[@theRhinsRanger]

I'm learning the Bodhran and love playing it, I've tried all sorts of musical instruments but the Bodhran just seems to resonate with me, boom tshh! Thank you lol

[@cactuswren9771]

OMG! I'm in love.... with the drums, the drummers, and the accent! Thank you so much dear men!! :))

[@jilmcmahon7711]

Enjoyed watching this, thanks!

[@matts.6234]

I've heard that true bodhrans are made from the skin of an Englishman and played with the bone of a Scotsman. Just an old joke, but still funny.

[@Birne250]

Joke?

[@EIREriddick13]

Made by a Welsh man I suppose

[@Noemi-jm7gh]

Its goat skin Thats a good one tho 😂

[@kingdollop-head743]

Beautiful music

[@denisbudbud]

Fantastic best bodhran playing. Not the standardized zomby playing of bodhran armies on their immaculate shinny drums. Destroyed drums getting the real genuine soul of the goat. Fantastic playing, Maestro. Lovely reportage. I loved it. Merci beaucoup.

[@susanbickersteth2526]

The drum beat that sings to my heart.

[@pentangle78]

Lovely ! Planning on learning how to play it .

[@scottmassey5509]

The boy's got serious chops. Respect.

[@chessfun]

brilliant video.... thanks

[@HiThereImFootloose]

I love this so much!

[@dipschtick167]

Fantastic! Donnchadh is a friend though I haven't seen him since 2003 when my wife and I visited. He was a grand host. He even introduced me to Charlie Byrne in Turlas and I got to go into the workshop. You should see the photos of Charlie I took.

[@davidbyrhtnoth375]

Superb!

[@anoldfashionedcountrylife811]

Love!!!

[@JeromeBallard]

Great video mate!!Big LIKE from me...

[@ibkristykat]

awesome to learn about this. :)

[@rickcruz3382]

That looks like a good (fun)way to get a workout!

[@Pickernik]

This was interesting and funny! Thank you for this video.

[@tomgreene6579]

A fine whistle player!

[@georgemcavoy7644]

and a fine flute, pipes and guitar player, the same man , probably the best young musician in Ireland.

[@annefarrington1883]

Maestro is right. Donnchadh is A-mazing! Love the duct tape and barbecue skewers, too! xo

[@JohnDoe-fv3vs]

At the end where they were playing in the pub all I could picture was coming in and joining them with electric guitar with distortion.

[@bobelam268]

What am I doing wrong? Everything. 🤣

[@sylviekell]

Dungarvin, hmm. I once met a cousin of mine from Dungarvin, decades ago in the '70s. She visited New York. The last name was Stack.

[@JustFiddler]

bagus sekali ! Matur suksma

[@thecharleshennesseyduo307]

problem with the venue is that SKY TV is still on - muted but on ..

[@nestorjofre9247]

necesito que alguien me traduzca este material por favor!!! estoy alucinado con el sonido del bodhran

[@eutytoalba]

Turn on the live automatic captions and copy them into a text translator. 🙂

[@jefflongsr2062]

" cause I'm the son of me drunken Irish dad" yep.!!

[@seantannion2114]

Wow his good

[@kevinmcgrath7183]

Does the bodhran player play with a group called Danu? I think I may have seen him with the group for a special concert for The McGrath Clan in 2019 in Dungarvan.

[@scottodonahoe4723]

As a red headed Irishman .I'm all in .

[@colintucker9291]

who is the whistle player? anyone know?

[@ymamahsrow]

Any one able to tell me the name of the tune played in the opening of the video?

[@deslm]

It’s called “The Girl that Broke My Heart.”

[@gordonmclees7509]

Amazing skills ! is it difficult to learn ???

[@ThornForTheWynn]

I got really good after 10 months to a year. I also had a fairly empty schedule with a fair bit of free time. I recommend Ruairi Glasheen here on YT. Breaks down technique, how to play for different styles of music, and more. Good luck!

[@AudioJeep]

he looks like old stock irish from back in the old days. very irish guy

[@EIREriddick13]

You mean he looks like a man that likes a good drink?

[@lydiahubbell6278]

was that duct tape inside the drum?

[@pauljordan4452]

Isn't there a support inside the bodhran to place your non-playing hand into? I've seen Caroline Corr playing it frequently. I like playing percussion yet have a paralysed right hand, that's why I ask.

[@Noemi-jm7gh]

Emm well normally you would have an x shape on the inside of the badhron, behind the skin but maybe you could get a custom one

[@kittydarling6405]

☺☺♥☺☺

[@mg6924]

Mmmm beer

[@mattiasfaldt1725]

Erin go braugh

[@martini3524]

Bodhrán means Deafener - in English.

[@droppinlowlows7234]

I love the music myself . But going from boat to boat like that is a no no . That's why you have docks to walk on,, Much love from from the US .

[@davidosilverman900]

Greyhound skin :-D My Blarney Meter is going off nineteen to the dozen.

[@EIREriddick13]

Such a skill A+

[@Superrant]

Dungarvan

[@RosheenQuynh]

I want to learn how to play a drumkit but the Bodhran looks significantly cheaper to buy, seems lighter to hold, and might be easier to learn than with a kit.

[@sapphirelewis1389]

RoseOfTheNight4444 Loool 😅

[@jrea424]

Any man with half an ounce of Rythm in his big toe could learn to play drums..

[@Timon-IrishFolk]

RoseOfTheNight4444 It's not easier but it is cheaper

[@sapphirelewis1389]

Primo Zerajo Maybe it is like how people think playing the tin whistle is easy; yeah right. Its dead easy until you actually try and play one at speed!

[@Timon-IrishFolk]

Very accurate comparison

[@jacquie1014]

I'd like me some Guinness 😊

[@salvagemonster3612]

What the Irish do?.."………. Hmmmm…….. wait I am still thinking"……………let me get back to you

[@hope.lowkeydancevibes333]

IM ALOT OF IRISH AND SCOTTISH BECAUSE MY LAST NAME IS MACDONALD AND THE HIGH RULER OF SCOTLAND IS CLAN MACDONALD THATS WHY MY LAST NAME IS MACDONALD BECAUSE IM SCOTTISH

[@eddiefitzgerald5198]

SO???

[@coachchris548]

Hope MacDonald I'll take a big Mac and fries then

[@4greenfieldseire654]

ahh jesus christ..........lol.....brilliant

[@salvagemonster3612]

It is pronounced WITH a TH sound. Not WIT

[@pooperscooper9176]

I’m sorry but soon as he mentioned a greyhound skin I’m away

[@hooleyqueen]

It is not greyhound. It is goat skin. It's a traditional drum made the same way for hundreds of years.

[@loryanello7435]

No greyhound skin should ever be used! I am Irish and this upsets me.

[@kerriprovasnik]

Kristy Stone 🤣 Nope....😉

[@-BriceW.Alms-]

Kristy Stone : Cat gut did not actually mean cat guts, in fact, it was cattle gut strings, before the 20th century, most instruments used cattle gut strings, these include banjos, guitars, and violins.

[@xANTHQNY]

Well its not like the greyhound needs its skin once it's dead. Better it live on as an instrument

[@kevinmurtagh3434]

There’s no real evidence it was played before 1914,

[@eightieslivenow7579]

goat skin or greyhound skin - yeah....I'm out.....

[@coachchris548]

Ireland return to your Catholic Church,teach your children the faith,don't let Liberalism in our country.

[@colliecandle]

If yas wanna end up in that lake of fire, by all means follow that p.o.s satanist in rome !

[@albertcooper]

An drum to play when you have no musical talent

[@chicharoni2822]

Albert Cooper oh wow. You know nothing about drummers. I am a drummer in a band. They use sheet music. I memorize the music faster then they can. You have no clue what you are talking about. Drummers are the heartbeat.

[@albertcooper]

I refer to the Bodhran drum

[@chicharoni2822]

Albert Cooper but you should watch Kevin Connef . He is the bodhran player for the chieftains. He is also their lead singer. Beautiful Irish tenor.

[@albertcooper]

Stick to the voice !

[@andrewwigglesworth3030]

Oh dear, the usual bullshit condensed into the first couple of lines of presenting. No, the Bodhran is not the "native drum of the celts". There is and was never a celtic nation, unified culture or history. History is more complex and interesting than this ethno-nationalist drivel. The history of the bodhran in Irish traditional music goes back to the 1950s and Seán Ó Riada. Seán Ó Riada invented the "celtic drum" for his arrangements of traditional music. Also, the presenter gets in a reference to Daniel Maclise's "Snap Apple Night" painting. You have to have a lot of wishful thinking and wilful ignorance to think that a bodhran is what is depicted in the painting. It is a tambourine, being played like a tambourine. Other copies, engravings etc of the painting make this even more blatantly obvious. I find it interesting that this is the painting that always seems to be referenced even though it is plainly a tambourine being played. Why is this? It's because of the absence of any other evidence. They have to refer to this painting and pretend that it is a bodhran being played because there is nothing else. Does this mean that no-one should be playing the bodhran in Irish traditional music (or elsewhere)? No, of course they can . There are "non-native" instruments playing folk music all around the world. The guitar is a recent import into British and Irish folk music. Melodeons too. It's the tunes and their interpretation that matter, and certainly not this reactionary ethno-nationalist "celtic" woo.

[@EIREriddick13]

Tell us about the Harp?

[@andrewwigglesworth3030]

@@EIREriddick13 What about the harp?

[@markkavanagh4457]

Nice playing, hate the bbq stick nonsense though! Ye get a far better sound off a solid stick.. I have a 6" ebony tipper that Malachy Kearns made for me, I've had it for over twenty five years, my 14" bodhran is a Padraic McNeela tuneable..