But while the directives dictating vegetable shape proved more urban myth than European law, Directives 2002/ 95/EC RoHS and 2002/96/EC WEEE are a very real threat to the music industry and could see every church organ in Europe ripped out and destroyed after 1 July, when they will come into effect. Now though, a lifeline has been thrown to the threatened church authorities from a most unexpected source: it may be led by a Bee Gees fan, but the Irish government is standing up against the European Union and demanding that the controversial directives be rewritten.

In defence of the beleagured EU, it seems highly unlikely that the lawmakers intended to include church organs in their list of hazardous materials targeted by the new directives. The legislation governs the disposal of electrical appliances and limits the amount of hazardous materials that can be contained within these appliances. It is intended to deal with and dispose of fridges, boilers and other household appliances. But the new rule that limits the percentage of lead in an electrically powered implement to just 0.1% effectively outlaws pipe organs, as they are powered by electric pumps and boast a lead content usually exceeding 50%.

Unless the directives are modified to offer exemptions to pipe organs, all the instruments in European churches . . . many of whom have enormous historical significance and value . . . will have to be stripped out and disposed of after 1 July.

In St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny, they've elected to carry on with the 650,000 restoration of their 150-yearold organ in spite of the looming legislation. When we first heard about it we honestly thought it was a joke, " says Mark Bowyer, the cathedral administrator. It would mean destroying instruments that might be four or five hundred years old.

Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? You're talking about 3000 lead pipes . . . what would you replace them with?"

The European Commission can't immediately offer suggestions, but the environment spokesperson, Barbara Helfferich, points out that ?people used to think that we couldn't live without asbestos to make ships float and to build buildings.

Then we discovered it's highly toxic. So it's banned, and we still have buildings and we still have ships."

The organ builders of Europe, however, argue that their organs are neither toxic nor replaceable. After interested groups lobbied the EU to re-examine the legislation, the commission has now conceded to a consultative process with the member states on the issue. And the Irish government has been quick to reject the directives as they apply to pipe organs. Ireland's position is that church organs come outside the scope of this as they use very little electricity, " said a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment.

We've made it clear that we don't believe they should be covered by this legislation. We do expect the commission to announce a decision on this quite soon."

They are not alone in hoping that common sense and musical taste will prevail in Brussels (home of several magnificent organs). Back at St Canice's, Mark Bowyer is optimistic that the directives will not be enforced. ?I would be very surprised if it does happen, " he says.

And very disappointed. 650,000 is a lot of money to be told in 12 weeks' time we have to take it all out again."