Musical pupils play with pipes

A lorry load ofplumbing materials and a week of DIY fun creating instruments for a world music concert.

It doesn’t sound like an average week in primary school but the Plumbers’ Guide to World Music project is in its 15th year of transforming waste pipes into an educational and enjoyable experience.

A total of 65 pupils from fourth, fifth, and sixth classes at Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa, Castletownbere, Co Cork, were the latest to take part in the unusual project.

Principal Paul Stevens said it was the third time music teacher and instrument maker Gordon Douglas arrived there for the week-long activity.

“We started the week with Wavin Ireland delivering a lorry load of plumbing materials to the school,” said Mr Stevens.

“The kids then got to work with Gordon and Clonakilty musician Adrian Boyle to make over 100 instruments including waste-pipe didgeridoos and central heating tube panpipes.”

The pupils created, painted, and tuned the instruments within two days. A further two days were spent learning a selection of world songs. And on the fifth day, pupils present the grand finale concert to showcase their new musical skills.