John, for the most part, forget "easiet". The best instrument for you will be the instrument you most want to play and it will be worth it even if it takes you years.

The drum and "easy to play" is the classic example of why there are so many bad bodhran players about and why the instrument has such a bad name in many sessions. It is a wonderful instrument but it takes skill and feeling for the music (and for the people you are playing with) to become someone that others enjoy playing with... It should never be considered an easy way into a session.

Jon