Bodhrán (An Bodhrán)

A traditional Irish frame drum, the heartbeat of Irish traditional music.

The Bodhrán (pronounced "bow-rawn") is the heartbeat of Irish traditional music. It is a frame drum, typically measuring 35 to 45 cm in diameter, with a goatskin head tacked to one side. The other side is open for the player's hand to control the pitch and timbre against the skin.

It is played with a double-ended beater called a "tipper" or "cipín," which strikes the skin in a complex, rhythmic pattern. While drums have been used in Ireland for centuries (often for war or as winnowing trays for grain), the Bodhrán's popularity as a musical instrument exploded in the mid-20th century during the folk revival.

Today, it is an essential part of any traditional session, providing the driving rhythm for reels, jigs, and hornpipes.