Iarnród Éireann has added to its collection of public pianos at rail stations, with a fifth installed at Kent Station in Cork to mark World Piano Day today.
Public pianos are already a feature at Heuston, Pearse and Conolly stations in Dublin, and at Plunkett station in Waterford.
The public are being encouraged to pause and play during their daily commute.
Commuters arriving at and departing from Kent Station in Cork this morning were entertained with a sweet treat for the senses.
Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Howe has played at venues all over the world.
But the concourse of Kent railway station among busy commuters in his native Cork city has to be one of the more unusual venues he has played.
Dylan was playing a piano which has been installed at Kent Station to mark World Piano Day. The 88th day of each year is designated World Piano Day, to signify the 88 keys on a piano.
The public piano project is the idea of tuning and repair expert John Murphy. John, who is from Wexford and is based in Dublin, is the initiator and curator of the project.
He saw the impact it had at rail stations in the UK, where he completed a three-year course in piano tuning and restoration at Newark College Piano School, which is recognised as the UK's centre of excellence in tuning and restoration.
When Iarnród Éireann embraced the idea of public pianos at Irish railway stations a public piano was installed at Pearse Station in 2017 and at Heuston Station just over a year ago.
Conolly Station in Dublin and Plunkett Station in Waterford have come on board since then.
John was motivated by his love of music and his passion for the piano. The public have responded by embracing the idea too.
John re-tunes each of the instruments around four times a year. He is delighted with the results of the project and plans to expand it further.
Iarnród Éireann also says it's looking at further opportunities to expand the project.
