The Bodhran is one of the country’s most iconic instruments, particularly when it comes to traditional Irish music. A percussion instrument made of wood lathed on one end called a bone or other names such as tipper beater stick or cipin is played using one’s bare hand or using other lathed pieces such as beaters sticks or cipins for playing this lathe-turned cylinder.
The drum has developed into a sophisticated musical instrument, with different techniques depending on each player. Peadar Mercier and John Joe Kelly are two such virtuoso players who have taken bodhran playing to new levels of sophistication.
Eamonn O’Riada
Bodhran Drums have an ancient and varied history and remains an essential component of Irish music today. It was made famous during St Stephen’s Day festivities by being used to perform the ancient Hunting of the Wren ritual.
Over the 20th century, drums have gradually transitioned from being predominantly ritualistic instruments to mainstream musical ones; yet bodhrans remain an integral component of Irish musical landscape.
Eamonn O’Riada is a renowned traditional Irish bodhran player. Additionally, he is an accomplished composer of Caribbean-Irish descent who has contributed his skills and worked on numerous theatre productions worldwide.
He is widely respected within Irish traditional music circles for his dynamic and energetic playing that has earned him an extensive following among fans and generations of bodhran players alike.
Aimee Farrell Courtney
Aimee Farrell Courtney is one of the world’s premier female bodhran drum players. Her distinctive sound combines her musical approach to Ireland’s frame drum with various cultural and percussive influences for an original sound.
At one time or another she has collaborated and performed alongside Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Liam O’Flynn and Danu. She is well known in traditional music circles and regularly appears at cultural events countrywide.
The Bodhran is an iconic instrument in Irish culture. From its ceremonial origins, to becoming a national symbol and now its contemporary use by performers and educators alike. Its technical development can be witnessed in its ever-increasing community of makers, performers and pedagogues who regularly make these instruments.
The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum with an ancient history. This portable instrument is used in traditional Irish music and other folk genres for playing purposes.
Mel Mercier
Mel Mercier hails from Dublin and is an accomplished bodhran drummer, composer and theatre musician. Since 2002 he has served as Head of the Music Department at University College Cork; additionally, he holds the chair in music at UL (University of Limerick).
He is one of the premier contemporary bodhran players, working across an impressively broad spectrum of musical styles and instruments such as lutes and ney flutes as well as jazz and world music genres. Additionally, he regularly collaborates with leading Irish musicians particularly those involved with classical percussion or theater performance.
Beoga, an award-winning traditional Irish band with an innovative sound, was also formed under his leadership and has gained widespread praise since their formation. They have performed alongside artists like Ed Sheeran while winning awards from Drama Desk Awards for outstanding sound design.
Martin O’Riada
Martin O’Riada is an internationally acclaimed bodhran drummer. He has performed alongside artists such as Stevie Wonder and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones on tour and other musical collaborations.
He has long been at the forefront of revitalizing Irish traditional music and taking it to new heights, using his virtuosic playing of the bodhran to push its limits and set new records.
The Bodhran is an instrument which originated in Ireland. It is a type of frame drum with scarf-joined frames. The Bodhran first gained widespread recognition during Ireland’s traditional music resurgence during the 1960s.
Paddy Moloney, who played Uilleann pipes, established The Chieftains in 1963 with Michael Tubridy on wooden flute, Sean Potts on tin whistle, and David Fallon on bodhran. Over time they would go on to record over 40 albums and win six Grammy awards – becoming household names across North America and beyond.