In 1963 I won the all Ireland bodhran cup, presented by the great singer Fergus McNulty, who was visiting from Glasgow. Since then I've toured the world - I imagine most of you here know my music very well - playing the bodhran and sporadically - the mouth harmonica - or God's Harp, as I prefer to call it. In Connaught, we have a saying - Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat - which basically means may the cat eat you and the devil eat the cat - and that's what I'd say to all you bodhran doubters. The bottom line is that played well, like when I play it, or the great Harvey Munn, it's as sweet as an egg - but played badly - like 99.9% of players, it's as welcome as a wet fart in a small lift. Leave it out. Learn something else. Learn the pipes, or get a job in the bank and get the drinks in at every session you go to - that way you'll be more popular than as a bad / ok / novice / good bodhran player. Only the very best need apply, I'm afraid. Remember - Is deas an rud an beagán ach é a dhéanamh go maith.
If you can't understand that you shouldn't be any where near the sacred goats tum anyhow.
Jim Carrol - I salute you - Nár laga Dia do lámh.

Conor "Bruiser" O'Brien