Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm not anti bodhran but I do think people think its the easiest instrument to learn and also cheep to buy. It seems to those interested the easiest way of entering the close knit world of the 'session' without spending over 3 years learning an instrument and getting up to session speed. I have also seen it used as a stepping stone to other instruments - once the player gets into the scene, picks up the tunes in his/her head and then goes on to play them on whistle or other instrument. I dont think I will say anything and just be gratefull that the next generation is taking an interest in the music. Hopefully he will settle down as he begins to understand the secret, complex and unwritten rules of the 'session' Herge