Brendan White

Quality second to none.
I bought my first bodhran 24 years ago from a kindly gentleman in Colma, CA. The drum served me well for two decades of playing. I taught myself – practicing for hours to recorded music and with other musicians. It was a good drum made in Minnesota – «student» quality – but good enough for many open mics, jams, and recording sessions. That drum took me from college into my 40s and the wear is definitely showing by now.
In mulling the idea of getting a new one, it occurred to me that I needed to take a step up, and get a bodhran of professional quality, for professional playing. I did a lot of research to find who professional Celtic bands and bodhran players go when they want to buy a drum for their music. If you do any searches like this on Google, your work will inevitably lead to Brendan White.
Mr. White has been making bodhrans since 1974, and his drums have been played by such artists and bands as Christy Moore, De Danaan, The Dubliners, and Imelda May. Once I made my choice, I ordered the drum online from his website.
Well, it took a few months, and the drum just arrived today, all the way from the Netherlands in an old rolling tobacco box. It’s the work of a real craftsman – the head has a beautiful natural pattern and it plays with a gorgeous deep tone. This is the drum that I will be playing through my 60s, and I am looking forward to a couple more decades of music-​making ahead with it.
If you’re looking for a high-​quality bodhran, I hope that this review points you in the right direction. For a few hundred euro, you can buy the best here.