Glossary

The following is a glossary of terms you might not be familiar with.

bodhran photobodhran
An open-ended, goatskin-head drum. Rhymes with "moron".
button accordionbutton accordion
Chick magnet. Really!
concertinaconcertina
Like the various accordions and the harmonica, is a member of the free-reed family of instruments. Developed in England and Germany in the early 1800s. The Anglo concertina is the style of concertina preferred for Irish music.
craic
Irish word for fun/enjoyment that has been brought into the English language, usually when mixed with alcohol and/or music.
fiddle
Same as a violin. Get over it.
nyah
The rhythmic quality that distinguishes Irish music--the "lift". When you "have the nyah" traditional musicians recognize it and dancers can dance to it.
session etiquette
A controversial issue concerning how one behaves at a session.
uilleann pipes
The characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. Unlike the Highland pipes, the Uilleann pipes can be played inside and have a 2-octave range instead of 9 notes.