Oh boo ... I was hoping that you were spared. I have heard complaint from all over N. America that this winter has been especially long and bitter and can never help but wonder how you fare in the south. After the snow, luckily, it did become a bit nicer. Let's hope that it persists ... both here and to the south! :)

Re Ireland: I'm going to take Pengolodh and hope to be able to keep up my travel journal this time, since I won't have to worry about school assignments, as I did in England and Scotland. :) You know I'll bring back at least one thousand photos! :D

A bodhran is a Celtic drum; here is the Wiki article on it. It's probably my favorite drum; it really drives the music and gets in my blood! I hope to learn it one day too, but right now am back to working on my recorders and will soon be starting the fiddle.