Don't hate the bodhran - just the effect it has on Irish music; (have no opinion on its use in other musics). This is a relatively new phenomenon; the bodhran has only had widespread use in Ireland since the 1960s.
It is a well-extablished belief that the effect of the instrument is a detrimental one on what is now basically a melodic musical form - hence the general hostility - would be interested to hear another explanation of it, other than "people just don't understand us" or the the 'jealous non-musician' one?????
It really isn't my claim that Clare is 'the home of traditional music' - it's one of the irritating catch-phrases that is virtually impossible to avoid - as you would know if you lived here. It does have some validity, thanks to Willie Clancy, Johnny Doran, Bobby Casey, Tom McCarthy, Junior Crehan, Paddy Breen, Elizabeth Crotty, P Joe Hayes and son Martin, Paddy Canny, John Kelly, Micho, Packie and Gussie Russell, Chris Droney...... and all the other household names who, within living memory, kept the music and dance alive here long enough for a younger generation to take it up and give it the high profile that it is now enjoying.
Yes, the Irish (particularly here in Clare) are extremely friendly and cheerful - as a couple of Brits we found that to be very much the case when we moved here ten years ago.
Jim Carroll