The vehemence against bodhran and banjo players is mostly expressed by those who cannot play themselves. Both instruments require a lot of skill to play well. Certainly a poorly played bodhran or banjo is painful to hear, but no more so than any other instrument played badly. A well played bodhran is a delightful accompaniment to some (but not all) tunes. Personally, I love Christy Moore's use of the instrument. But then it is always a matter of taste. By the way, we use one to collect the whip-round money each night! Is this a correct usage?
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