Globetrotting is no pipe dream

Published Apr 2, 2015

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Edinburgh - A man in a kilt playing the bagpipes may be a regular feature in Scotland, but beyond the borders it’s a somewhat rarer occurrence.

But one patriotic bagpiper is taking Scottish heritage around the world as he aims to be the first Scot to play the instrument in every single country.

Ross O’Connell Jennings, 25, has played in 34 countries and is working his way around the world to bring Scottish music to the masses.

The motivational speaker is no stranger to travel, having attended an international school in Shanghai, lived in Thailand for a while, and studied Economics and Chinese at Edinburgh University.

His father would always encourage him to take his bagpipes wherever he travelled, and Ross realised that he had racked up an impressive number of countries that he had played in.

“When I told my friends and family that I was going to try and attempt to do every country they thought I was absolutely ridiculous, but are incredibly supportive,” the half-Scot-half-Irishman said.

Jennings prefers to travel by himself, as he says it is more fun because he meets a lot of people who are curious about his mission and the kilt.

When he was recently in Jerusalem, a girl grabbed him as soon as she spotted his Scottish attire, and insisted that he play on the top of the Tower of David.

The bagpipes have also proven to be a way to get out of some sticky situations. When travelling in Tunisia, a police guard stopped his rented car and grilled him on why it was not registered.

Having done prior research Jennings knew that the bagpipe was similar to the Tunisian mezoued, and ended up playing for them, to their delight, and was allowed on his way.

Transporting the instrument is one of the hardest parts of mission, the piper said.

As they have to be taken on planes as hand luggage, there are always confused reactions when it goes through the X-ray machine.

“I nearly always get pulled over and asked whether it is a shisha pipe, or a weapon!”

When Jennings reaches a country they are usually very receptive to his playing. The Vatican police were less than impressed, however, and he was almost immediately accosted by officers. “They quickly silenced me, but admitted they thought it was kind of cool.”

 

Animals similarly seem to appreciate the bagpipe playing, and the adventurer has counted giraffes, goats and warthogs among his audience. “When I was in Nairobi at the Giraffe Manor they were initially hesitant as to how the giraffes would react to the sound. I began playing and they actually starting marching in line, it was incredible.”

There have been mixed reactions to the kilt though.

At the foot of Kilimanjaro he encountered a group of ladies who were in hysterics at his attire and playing, one of the older ladies even went as far as to call his kilt “disgusting”.

 

When he is not travelling, Jennings works in England for a company that runs seminars and motivational speeches in secondary schools.

The musician saves from his job, and has been helped out by generous contacts he has made.

 

Japan was where he received the most donations, and he had no sooner opened his bagpipe case to take out his instrument than people were already throwing coins into his box and taking photographs.

His next mission is Ethiopia in April. Follow him on Facebook or Instagram.

Becky Pemberton, Daily Mail

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