There seems to be little evidence that the bodhran is of any great age, except as an agricultural implement, occasionally pressed into service as a noise-maker by Wren Boys and the like. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the tambourine was very popular in both Ireland and England, and was played in both countries much as the bodhran is now; with a double-headed stick, or with the knuckles. In both countries, that popularity was probably mainly due to the "Ethiopian" minstrel shows that came over from America. Prior to the tambourine, the tabor was the drum of choice, in England at any rate. The Lambeg, like the tabor, is a double-headed drum, probably unrelated to either tambourine or bodhran.

That isn't going to stop the "new age Celts" fantasising about marching to war with their bodhrans and uilleann pipes (and probably didgeridoos), covered in woad and "tribal" tatoos and wearing nice colourful tartans, of course.