"If there is anything in this world that the Irish don't claim to have invented I'll be amazed."
I thought that that was the Scots
As has been pointed out, the bouzouki and the bodhran are fairly recent introductions to Irish instrumental music - the former has its origins in ritual rather than dancing
In Clare, many of the older musicians thought the playing of the former to be unlucky due to its ritual nature (or that's what they told us!!)
Perhaps the declared intention of many of them to take a knife to is has its roots in ritual sacrifice!!
Jim Carroll