Jeepers, Kenny, I thought I'd replied to your post two days ago but on revisiting the thread I see that the ether has claimed my response! Thanks for your good wishes. I haven't lost the ability to play though I've lost a few tunes, only temporarily I think, owing to not playing them.

Well, Jack, after years of sparring with Michael Gill I came to the conclusion that bodhrans have no place in sessions. The rhythm of the music is already there in spades in the tunes. There is no reason on earth why a good melody player can't be as sharply rhythmical as any owner of the goatskin, and he or she is perfectly capable of giving backbone to the session. Arrangements for gigs or CDs are different matters, yet even then there's a ton of percussive crap around. Maybe I live in the wrong part of the country, but I've never encountered a bodhranista that I felt I'd want back next week.