So I am 6 weeks into learning the tin whistle. A couple of weeks ago I made the mistake of mentioning to my wife another instrument that I found fascinating. And what do I find lurking under the Christmas tree this morning… a brand new Bodhran! It’s an 18 inch tunable model complete with tipper and instructional video. I really need to expedite my retirement to find time for all of my hobbies!
You call that a mistake?!
Based on results, it was pure genius.
Anything involving Bodhrans is always a mistake 
.
Oh well.. hope you enjoy it.
–
Bill
Bodhrans are ok if someone knows how to use them, it’s the " Bodhran Bashers " that are a serious problem in sessions. Some people seem to think it’s a quick way of joining a session without having to bother learning any tunes. In general I hate the damn things as it’s hard to come across people who can actually play them.
I have to say I’m just as fortunate as you, Blazer. I opened up a gift from my mother, and found a bodhran (much to my surprise 
)! In addition to my violin, whistles, and saxophone, I think I need more hands! Have fun with yours! 
Bah, I swear I’d kill someone if I found a bodhran under the tree, anyway I found a nice Dixon Bb under mine 
and you’ll need to learn another instrument after that one. (The ocarina is fun.)
Good for you!! I love the bodhran. I just practice a little restraint when playing in a group, and everybody loves me. Have fun with it ">)
What can i say Blaydo - At least I have a new method of waking up the rest of the house in the middle of the night. They’ve gotten too used to the whistles whistling! 
Don’t worry, you’ll manage to do both, take it from a member of a band of instrument addicts with too many
things to study and not nearly enough time.
I play a little percussion (Ghaval, Daf and Bendir) here and there in our band too. I’m not very good, but It is a lot of fun and I found that working on percussion really helped me think outside the usual boxes for playing melodic instruments too. Especially when exploring exotic time signatures like Afghan 7/8 and Turkish 9/8.
Some friends here play Bodran as a large Tar or Bendir. If it is tunable you can adjust the pitch to be
friendly to play as a hand drum instead of using a beater. It is much more flexible, easier to master and the sound fits a wider range of traditional music styles.
Anyway Happy New Year and good luck.