I guess in truth that this Irish drummy thing evolved as a transglobal instrument in many cultures, even before the Black Stuff was invented. I picked up in Dublin last year a leaflet from an Irish maker and his story was that it evolved from a goatskin bottomed circular tray used to haul peat from the peat beds. Now far be it for me to cast doubt on this historical gem but if I was going to pull a pile of peat home to keep me warm during the winter, i'd want a tad more peat than you could carry on a bodhran. The alternative version is that the bodhran started it's days as a circular skin covered lightweight shield (american plains indians link) used with the irish knobkerrie or shillelagh as a weapon for close quarter combat. At greater distances the warriors would beat their weapons upon their sheilds (zulu war link) in order to strike fear into their enemies. Now they just do it to their friends in Irish sessions up and down the country. Joking apart, it's a nice build excersise if you have the patience and like working nice woods and with the English weather, a tuning ring makes things soooooooo much easier. If anyone fancies having a go at making one, I built one a couple of years ago and it turned out a beaut, it frightens everyone. happy to talk it through with anyone.