Celebrating Seamus Heaney: A Perfect Poem for St. Patrick’s Day
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, what better time to celebrate one of Ireland’s greatest literary voices—Seamus Heaney? A poet of deep emotion, rich imagery, and profound humanity, Heaney captured the essence of Irish life and relationships like no other.
Heaney’s poem "When All the Others Were Away at Mass" was voted Ireland’s favourite poem of the last 100 years in a public poll by RTÉ, the national broadcaster. It’s a stunningly intimate reflection on his relationship with his mother, and with both St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day around the corner, there’s no better moment to appreciate this deeply moving sonnet.
For LAMDA students, this poem is a fantastic choice for Grade 7 Speaking Verse & Prose—not only is it a sonnet (a requirement at this level), but it also offers incredible depth of feeling and opportunity for performance. Let’s explore five things we love about this poem and why it’s such a brilliant piece to study and perform.
When All The Others Were Away At Mass
When all the others were away at mass,
I was all hers as we peeled the potatoes.
They broke the silence, let fall by one
Like solder weeping off the soldering iron:
Cold comforts set between us, things to share
Gleaming in a bucket of clean water.
From each other’s work would bring us to our senses.
So while the parish priest at her bedside
Went hammer and tongs at the prayers for the dying
And some were responding and some crying
I remembered her head bent towards my head,
Her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives -
Never closer the whole rest of our lives.
1. The Sonnet Form is Used to Express Familial, Not Romantic, Love
Traditionally, sonnets are associated with romantic love—think Shakespeare’s love sonnets or Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s How Do I Love Thee?. But Heaney subverts this expectation, using the structure of a sonnet to explore the deep, unspoken love between a mother and son. This makes it an especially powerful choice for LAMDA students, offering a chance to bring real emotional weight to a classic form.
2. The Stunning Metaphor of Solder Weeping Off a Soldering Iron
One of the most beautiful and haunting images in the poem is:
"They broke the silence, let fall by one / Like solder weeping off the soldering iron."
Solder is used to join things together, just as Heaney and his mother are joined by this simple act of peeling potatoes. But the word “weeping” foreshadows the grief to come. When we reach the end of the poem, where his mother is dying, we realise that this everyday moment was a symbol of their deep bond—a bond that will soon be broken.
For a LAMDA performance, this metaphor is an incredible moment to emphasise. Saying "weeping" with a softness or hesitation can hint at the sadness that lingers beneath the memory.
3. The Strong Rhyme at the End Emphasises Their Unbreakable Bond
The final two lines are incredibly striking:
"Her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives—
Never closer the whole rest of our lives."
The perfect end rhyme ("knives"/"lives") is a powerful final statement of unity. Even though this memory is from childhood, it is the closest they ever were—a moment of connection that even death cannot erase.
For LAMDA students, these lines are the emotional climax of the poem. A slow, deliberate delivery can let the weight of that final revelation sink in.
4. The Contrast Between “Some,” “Others,” and “Our” Highlights Their Special Bond
The poem repeatedly juxtaposes different groups of people:
"All the others" (family, neighbours, the community) are at Mass, part of a shared ritual.
"Some were responding and some crying" at his mother’s bedside, caught in grief and duty.
But in the most important moment, Heaney uses "our": "our fluent dipping knives."
This shift in pronoun shows that his connection with his mother was something different, something unique. While others were bound by convention, he and his mother had a quiet, personal intimacy that was just as sacred.
For students performing this piece, the difference in tone between these words can really bring out their meaning. Emphasising the word “our” gives weight to that deeply personal connection.
5. One More Thing We Love: The Simplicity of the Moment
What’s truly extraordinary about this poem is how a completely ordinary action—peeling potatoes—becomes something profound. There is no grand declaration of love, no dramatic moment. Just a mother and son, sitting together, silently working.
And yet, this quiet moment is the one he holds onto most when she is gone.
This is such a valuable lesson for students learning to bring poetry to life: big emotions don’t always need big gestures. Sometimes, the most powerful performances come from the smallest, simplest moments.
Why This Poem is Perfect for LAMDA Grade 7
If you’re studying for your Grade 7 Speaking Verse & Prose exam, this poem is an excellent choice. Here’s why:
✅ It’s a sonnet—meeting the exam requirement.
✅ It has rich, layered meaning, allowing for vocal variation and emotional depth.
✅ It allows for subtle, natural delivery rather than over-the-top dramatics.
✅ It explores universal themes of love, memory, and loss, making it relatable for both student and audience.
Celebrate Heaney This St. Patrick’s Day!
Seamus Heaney remains one of Ireland’s greatest poets, and When All the Others Were Away at Mass is a perfect example of his brilliance. This St. Patrick’s Day, take a moment to read or even perform one of his works—whether for LAMDA practice, personal enjoyment, or to share with family and friends.
And if you choose this poem for your LAMDA Grade 7 exam, we’d love to hear how you bring it to life! 💚☘️
🎥 Watch Seamus Heaney read the poem here:
🔗 Seamus Heaney Reading
