Sophocleese, learning to play the bodhran may have helped you but I wouldn't consider it to be an aid to timing. It is a sad fact but but of the worst time keepers that I have met have been bodhran players with guitar players coming in a close second. Youl'd think that the rythem players would be the ones to get this area right....I did find playing for dancers a great help as well as doing a littly dancing and I do think that to do either or both of those does help one learn to feel the rhythm.
I am also a beliver in the metronome (these days, I use midi - but same principle) and another suggestion is to play along with good proffesional recordings.
Jon