There’s an old joke that goes, “What’s the best way to play a bodhrán? With a penknife.” The slag is reputed to have come from the piper Séamus Ennis – infuriated by beginners buying a bodhrán at a ...

When Cathy Jordan went on stage at this year’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil concert it was as amhránaí na bliana – singer of the year. But she closed the event accompanying herself on the bodhrán, so putting the ...

Contrary to Seamus Ennis’ much-quoted admonition that the best way to play the bodhrán was with a penknife, this percussion instrument is a much-admired and prominent feature in many Irish traditional ...