The pipes are calling to promote a thriving industry

While other sectors may be suffering,  one that certainly hasn’t been affected by the recession is Uilleann Pipe making. The national bagpipe of Ireland is one of the most complicated instruments in the world to build, usually taking a master craftsman somewhere in the region of 400 hours from start to finish.

The waiting list for someone to get their hands on a set, which can retail anywhere from  €7,000 to €20,000, is often more than seven years. Ireland currently commands only 20% of this €7million-a-year industry, so the possibility of expansion, and the creation of more jobs, is enormous.

 
To aid this possibility, Fingal LEADER Partnership and Na Piobairi Uilleann have teamed up to provide a three year course in Art of Uilleann Pipe Making. The comprehensive programme will cover all aspects of the trade, including basic engineering, fine precious metal mork, the history and evolution of the instrument, as well as how to run a practicing business.

It begins this year, and it is aimed that by the end of the course each student will have produced two full and high standard sets of pipes.

15,000 employed and 70,000 trained

Brian Carty of the Irish Local Development Network

- Survey of local development companies indicates

Over an 18-month period, Local Development Companies (LDCs) directly supported an estimated 15,000 people to find their way back into paid work, placed around 70,000 people on training courses and provided support to about 10,000 small business start-ups. Many if not most of these people were long-term unemployed.
 
The Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) has just published the results of a survey for 2010 and the first six months of this year. The survey covered just over half (27 out of 51) the LDCs in the country and our headline figures are based on a doubling of the numbers. The actual national impact may be slightly lower or indeed higher.