Well, It'd be worth talking to Kevin O'Connell.

i've got one of his drums and fervently recommend him to all the people I teach the bodhran too. It's an excellent drum, and very well made solid instrument.

So I'm with Claire on that one. I drove from South Wales (Kevin will know who I really am) and selected my drum from a fine array of other drums he had there. Excellent quality!

As for oiling it, don't bother! There's enough natural oils in your hands you will naturally pass on to it as you play. With the bodhran the more you play it the better the skin gets and eventually they develep into great tonal instrument.s I've had Kevins drum for over 5 years now, and it's gorg still!

Just keep it away from extreme heat and damp, and don't leave it in the sun in the back of cars and you should be grand.

Don't bother painting it unless you're going to stick it on a wall and never paint it, it comes off anyway. Like most instruments you gets what you pays for is all I'm going to say.

I started off on a Malachy drum and for a starter drum it was excellent, but I soon needed a different sort. There's all sorts of different makers and some I'd really recommend. If you want to know em send a pm.

One of my students is off to compete in the All Ireland Fleadh next week and I'm really excited for him. I've competed in it too, but he's much more relaxed about it than I ever was. I recommend my students to start off on a cheaper drum, and then when they feel they really like the instrument to invest in something a bit better quality.

Happy beatings!

Ella