Depends how well you play it. The fact that you are 'thinking of learning to play' is a good sign - too many people seem to think you don't need to learn, you just hit it.

Don't try to play along with everything. And don't join in when there is already lots of percussion - I saw one festival 'session' with one fiddler and six bodhrans - not a good mix.

Of course there will be banter and insults - the bodhran is one of the instruments that is traditionally maligned, like the banjo and accordion. Played well, they can really lift the music - played badly, they can swamp it.

So it's not an English folk instrument? Neither is the guitar. It's what you do with it that counts.

Andrew