Scoil Acla - Bodhran Classes

The bodhrán is a circular frame drum braced with two crossbars and a goatskin head tacked to one side (synthetic heads, or other animal skins are sometimes used). The other side is open ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the tension of the skin and therefore the pitch and timbre.

The drum is struck with the other hand (usually the right) and is played either with the bare hand or with a lathe-turned piece of wood called a "bone", "tipper", "beater", or "cipín". Tippers were originally fashioned from a double-ended knuckle bone, but are now commonly made from ash, holly or hickory.

The bodhrán is one of the most basic of drums and as such it is similar to the frame drums distributed widely across northern Africa and the Middle East, and has cognates in instruments used for Arabic music and the musical traditions of the Mediterranean.

It's introduction as an instrument in Ireland is unknown. Debate is split on whether it was originally an ancient skin tray for carrying peat which was then turned into an instrument or whether it was brought to Ireland from elsewhere ( most probably North Africa ).

Today the bodhrán is a recognised traditional Irish music instrument which has gained popularity throughout the celtic music world.