G'day,

Just to throw in a bit of dating info from the far side of the world ... I have, in the Bush Music Club Archives, a videoptape of a c. 1980 program on a woman (now deceased) who had gone from being something of a country singer back towards her Irish ancestry and was teaching (vaguely Irish-derived) dancing in schools.

At one point she tells how she had been taught to play the bodhran by her grand mother (presumably in the 1920s) ... using a wooden spoon as a tipper on a wooden bread board. I can't remember whether she mentions the story that I have heard from other quarters ... that the drum was proscribed under British rule as a "war instrument" - presumed to lead soldiers into battle - and possession of a drum could be a capital offence, so the playing skills were passed on via other expedients like the bread board.

I personally find the logic a little strained, but I have also heard that the bodhran was encountered in Ireland before the 1950s folk revival - but only played in various festivals ... using one made for the event and ceremonially burned on a bonfire at the end of the evening (... now there's a tradition to ponder ... !).

Sorry, no citations - just a ragbag of recollections. (I should, at least, dig out the videotape and see if it still has a signal on it - or, at least, get the references to the subject.) She sent it to me when she was looking for someone who might publish her autobiography / reminiscences of Irish songs, music and dance / collection of her modern dances based on her heritage.

It was much too big for us and I suggested it might be better as three separate books. She wanted to see it come out as one book ... and I gather that she died, not long after taking back the typescript.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton