Longford's Backstage audience appreciates 'Every Blooming Thing' through poetry

With soft lighting and a space to enjoy poetry in the late evening, Colm Keegan and Erin Fornoff’s performance was an opportunity to relive a day and savour the “glimmers” that come with it. Appreciating the value of the small details in life, the night was a mix of calm readings and electronic rap by Dion Mercury.

As Colm Keegan said during the performance, the purpose was to “celebrate what’s here, right under our noses.” Overall, the attitude of the performance was to savour each moment; enjoy all the fine things, from accents, to the breeze, to the normal sights that bring so much warmth.

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The entire show travelled from morning to dusk, with the backlights ranging from soft blues to sunset orange. Loosely based on Patrick Kavanagh’s Inniskeen Road, which quotes the title of this performance, the event celebrated Longford local talent. Darragh Coady did a reading of his “Bread for the Bewildered”, a poem about homelessness and what the day-to-day is like for those in that position.

“Every Blooming Thing” was about people getting the opportunity to be on the stage. Three locals, Rachael, Anna and Shelley, had attended the 11am-1pm workshop. Using what they had created there, there was a segment where the three of them were able to read in front of the audience.

Poems included “Home”, for those not currently living where they are born. Colm read “Flip”. There was a poem at the end called “Dusk”, which had both lead poets, Coady, the three ladies and Mercury take a few lines each.

Dion Mercury's setlist included songs such as “Queen Latifa” and “Colours”, the latter being about seeing things from a different light. This was the overarching definition of “Every Blooming Thing”, which was designed to take its readers through a chronological journey. It highlighted the importance of the ordinary.

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This evening was not an overly formal type of poetry reading. With the mix of music and anecdotes from both poets, “Every Blooming Thing” gave the opportunity for everyone and anyone to enjoy poetry. Colm's energy and openness about his own life; as well as Erin's life away from America, gave a feeling of the recognisable and homely with the worldly and unknown. It was the type of show that encouraged people to get involved. The workshop was the perfect opportunity for participants to express themselves, while honing in their own literary craft.

The audience itself was varied in ages. The content of the event had opposites. The reading aspect suited the older demographic, while the intervals of music were best suited for a younger audience, who liked that kind of modern set list. Overall, it was a cosy show for all.