Eogancontinuestoentertain
BROADCASTING veteran Nick Eogan of Mountainview Drive in Bray has found a way to entertain the online masses while on lock-down.
As well as having been a presenter on BLB, East Coast FM, and Garden County Radio, he is the founder of a new Facebook page entitled ‘Entertain Us Bray and County Wicklow’.
There are no rules, other than kindness, and anyone can go live with a performance, post a clip of their song, poem or talent, or simply share a clip of a performance to the group. ‘It means someone in Bray or anywhere in Wicklow or outside of that can entertain us,’ said Nick, who retired from An Post in 2015. Coming up to the age of 71, Nick is cocooned along with his wife Nuala. They have been staying in since before the state asked people in vulnerable categories to do so.
Nick has another extremely popular page called Nick Eogan’s Adventures. When not locked-down, he goes out and about filming his exploits all over Wicklow and Ireland. Having to cut down on that, he was at something of a loose end.
Now, far from being bored, he said that there aren’t enough hours in the day to man the page! ‘There is so much depressing news, I wanted to do something positive,’ said Nick. Who is not beyond entertaining his followers with a spot of exercise, or finding innovative ways to mow the lawn...
‘There are so many entertainers in Ireland, in Bray and in Wicklow,’ said Nick. ‘This is giving people a chance to do something live from their sitting room. It’s a positive lift for people.’ He said that there’s no politics or advertisement, simply entertainers entertaining the public. ‘This could last three weeks, it could last six months,’ said Nick. ‘It’ll last as long as it lasts.’
He said that the page he has created puts everything in the one place for those people who want to enjoy some music. ‘There’s no nastiness, we have to think that way if we get through.’ Hundreds of followers joined within the first few days. ‘It’s just phenomenal,’ said Nick. ‘The messages coming back are heart-lifting.’
Nick posts a video each evening welcoming new members and thanking people for participating. He also looks through online records to find material to post.
He is embracing the technology available to reach out during isolation. ‘I’ll be zooming next,’ he said. ‘I’ll be zooming off the face of the earth!’ Nick is very grateful to all the people posting a song or party piece ‘They’re not gigging at the moment and unfortunately not making any money out of posting on Facebook. But at least they’re keeping in touch with their followers. It’s a pity so many people can’t get out and work. That includes roadies and other staff, not just the artists.’
Curating the page has given Nick plenty to do, and he looks forward to it each day. ‘It was nearly 1 in the morning when I was going to bed last night, I was up looking for entertainment to put on the page,’ he said. For himself, he casts the videos on to the TV and thus has hours of material to watch and enjoy. His own song was even used on the page.
My cousins in Athy posted it,’ he said. ‘I was on holidays two years ago. They videoed me up singing, or rather crowing! They posted it on the page. I could have taken it down but if I’m not prepared to go up myself how can I expect others to, and it was a bit of fun.’
Nick has been awake at night thinking of what to come up with next for his fun exercise videos. ‘I had my own St Patrick’s Day Parade in the garden,’ he said. ‘I cut the grass with a scissors. ‘Maybe I am mad, some people say I’ve lost it!’ He said that the page is a way of dealing with some of the anxiety and fear associated with the current crisis. ‘We’re going into our seventh week of self isolation,’ said Nick, who said that he’s been ‘trying to be funny’ online.
‘I’m not Brendan Grace,’ he said. ‘And I never will be!’ Many of his followers would beg to differ, and very much enjoy the Bray man’s antics. He is looking forward to getting back out on the road to the towns and villages of Ireland, but in the meantime is content to remain safely at home. Their son gets the shopping for Nick and Nuala, and they’ve been able to chat to their grandchildren outside at a distance, as well as on video calls.
‘It is very tough,’ said Nick. While ‘cocooning’ is recommended rather than mandatory, Nick said that the footpaths are busier than he would be comfortable with, and he and his wife are following the advice and staying out of harm’s way.