Rita Ann Higgins' retrospective Jiving with Wasps: interviews & reviews
'Celebration of the everyday, that we may take for granted, powers much of these poems that span some forty years. [...] The town and country, nay the whole island, shines in her tones of light and dark with the occasional blast of colour. Long may she reign, at least unofficially, as Irish Poet Laureate.' – Fred D'Aguiar, PBS Selector, Poetry Book Society Bulletin
Poetry Book Society Special Commendation
Irish poet Rita Ann Higgins's new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems was published in the UK and Ireland on 26 March 2026 by Bloodaxe Books. It was a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation for Spring 2026. Scroll down to see a video of Rita Ann's joint online launch event with Bloodaxe.
Jiving with Wasps draws on a dozen books of poetry published over four decades, from Goddess on the Mervue Bus (1986) to The Long Weekend (2024), in addition to new poems appearing here for the first time. These are provocative and heart-warming poems of high jinks and telling social comment by a gutsy, anarchic chronicler of Irish lives and foibles. Defiantly mischievous, playfully subversive, this irreverent iconoclast has been achieving even wider popularity through her regular appearances on RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor Show: 'Rita Ann Higgins is the people's poet. She's magic. She's a one-off.'
Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems updates Rita Ann Higgins’ two previous Bloodaxe retrospectives Sunny Side Plucked (1996) and Throw in the Vowels: New & Selected Poems (2025), including substantial selections from the earlier collections included in those with the addition of poems from her later collections Ireland Is Changing Mother (2011) and Tongulish (2016) from Bloodaxe; Hurting God (2010), Our Killer City (2018) and Pathogens Love a Patsy (2020) from Salmon; The Long Weekend (Gill, 2024), poems read on RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor Show; and a generous selection of new, previously uncollected poems.
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FORTHCOMING REVIEW IN THE IRISH TIMES
Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems is due to be reviewed by Catríona Clutterbuck in her July 2026 round-up of new and recent poetry in The Irish Times.
The review will be available in print and online by subscription. Forthcoming 4/11 July 2026.
POEMS ON THE UNDERGOUND
Poems on the Underground, June 2026 set
A poem by Galway poet Rita Ann Higgins is included on the latest set of Poems on the Underground posters, which will be displayed in underground and overground trains during the month of June 2026.
Rita Ann’s poem is ‘No One Mentioned the Roofer (for Pat Mackey)’, which was first published in Ireland Is Changing Mother and is now included in her new Bloodaxe retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems. An audio recording of Rita Ann reading the poem has been included under the poster on the Poems on the Underground website here. The poster is also on its own individual page here.
Fellow Bloodaxe poet Maura Dooley’s poem ‘A Bunch of Consolation’ from her 2023 collection Five Fifty-Five is also featured in the June 2026 set of posters. Her poem can be seen here.
RITA ANN HIGGINS FEATURE IN THE CONNACHT TRIBUNE
Connacht Tribune/Galway City Tribune, Friday 5 June 2026
A feature on Rita Ann Higgins’ Poems on the Underground poster ran in the Connacht Tribune and the Galway City Tribune of 5 June. Rita Ann Higgins spoke to Judy Murphy about the background to the poem, which is dedicated to her late son-in-law Pat Mackey. The poem was reproduced in full.
An in-depth interview with Rita Ann Higgins was featured in the same papers on 27 March 2026 ahead of her Galway launch for Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems.
INTERVIEW ON RTÉ RADIO 1’s POETRY PEOPLE
Poetry People, RTÉ Radio 1, Sunday 3 May 2026, 7pm
An interview with Rita Ann Higgins was broadcast on the first episode of the new series of RTÉ Radio 1’s Poetry People on 3 May. She was in conversation with host Rachael Hegarty about her new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems. They began by discussing the process of choosing the best of the best for this third retrospective of Rita Ann’s poetry.
Rita Ann read and introduced two poems first published in her 1986 debut collection Goddess on the Mervue Bus: ‘Ode to the Rahoon Flats’ and ‘Mrs McEttigan’. Rachael Hegarty ended by mentioning some of the new poems in the book, saying, ‘You have your finger on the pulse of Ireland and beyond’.
‘Rachael is joined by poets Daragh Fleming and Rita Ann Higgins, and writer Roddy Doyle talks about a poem he loves.’
First item, from 4.40.
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/poetry-people/2026/0503/1571585-poetry-people-sunday-3-may-2026/
REVIEW ON BOOKS FOR BREAKFAST
Books for Breakfast, Episode 92, Thursday 30 April 2026
An excellent in-depth review on Rita Ann Higgins’s new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems ran at the top of Adam Wyeth’s round-up of new poetry books on the Irish podcast Books for Breakfast. He also discussed the book with hosts Edna Wyley and Peter Sirr. This segment ended with a recording of Rita Ann Higgins reading her early poem ‘The Blanket Man’.
‘This new selected is a wonderful opportunity to return to her work and to see in a more sustained way just how powerful a figure she is. What really strikes me, reading across these 40 years, is the sense of evolution, not just in her own voice, but in the Ireland she’s writing out of. Ireland was a very different place 40 years ago, and Higgins is documenting and responding to that change in a way that’s both personal and social, so it’s a great read.’ – Adam Wyeth, speaking about Jiving with Wasps on Books for Breakfast
‘We welcome back to the breakfast table poet and Irish Times reviewer Adam Wyeth to talk with us about recent poetry publications that have grabbed his attention. Adam is himself an award-winning and critically acclaimed poet, playwright and essayist with five books published with Salmon Poetry and we are delighted to have him with us this morning. He will be talking about Rita Ann Higgins, Jiving with Wasps: New and Selected Poems; Gerard Smyth, The Turn for Ithaca; Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Hymn for the Restless Girls; Billy Ramsell, Render; Paddy Bushe, Uncertain Passage; Jamie O'Halloran, Ballast; Colm Scully, Neanderthal Boy.’
First item. Enda Wyley introduces Jiving with Wasps at 1:13. Listen here.
IRISH REVIEW COVERAGE
The Irish Catholic, Thursday 16 April 2026
A brilliant review of Rita Ann Higgins’s new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems ran in the weekly newspaper The Irish Catholic of 16 April 2026.
‘In poems that are frank, provocative and full of outrage yet tempered with compassion, she engages the reader with plain, unpretentious, earthy speech. Every arrow hits the mark. […] In a career spanning over forty years, she has ploughed her own furrow, a rich, deep furrow that has brought her many rewards and awards. […] Jiving with Wasps, a retrospective collection drawing on a dozen books of poetry published over four decades, casts a clear, lively, and at times subversive eye on contemporary Ireland and contributes in no small way towards the forging of the conscience of the race.’ – Gabriel Fitzmaurice, The Irish Catholic
In print in the 6 April 2026 edition. Also available online.
https://www.irishcatholic.com/the-sharp-stings-of-real-life/
INTERVIEW WITH RITA ANN HIGGINS ON GALWAY BAY FM
Galway Talks with John Morley, Galway Bay fm, Tuesday 14 April 2026, 9am-12pm
Rita Ann Higgins was interviewed on Galway Talks with John Morley on 14 April 2026. She was speaking about her new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems. Rita Ann began by reading her poem ‘Higher Purchase’, which was first published in her 1996 fourth collection.
As well as speaking about the book, she also talked about the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, where she’ll be launching Jiving with Wasps. Rita Ann took part in the very first Cúirt festival 41 years ago, so it’s fitting that she should be closing this year’s festival with the launch of her retrospective covering her poetry from the past 40 years.
‘One of Galway’s most distinctive literary voices is celebrating a major milestone. Poet Rita Ann Higgins has just seen her new collection Jiving with Wasps climb to No 5 on the Non-Fiction charts. The book brings together new and selected poems spanning four decades of work, capturing not just her own life, but the changing face of Galway and Irish society along the way. From her breakthrough Goddess on the Mervue Bus to her sharp, modern take on politics and life online, Higgins has always stayed true to her voice – grounded, observant and unmistakably her own.’ – John Murphy, introducing Rita Ann Higgins on Galway Talks
‘Rita Ann Higgins Celebrates 40 Years in Poetry as ‘Jiving with Wasps’ hits bestsellers list’
Rita Ann is introduced at 36:42.
https://galwaytalks.podbean.com/e/galway-talks-with-john-morley-tuesday-april-14/
INTERVIEW ON THE BRENDAN O’CONNOR SHOW
Brendan O’Connor, RTÉ Radio 1, Sunday 29 March 2026, 11am-1pm
Rita Ann Higgins was Brendan O’Connor’s guest on his RTÉ Radio 1 show on Sunday 29 March 2026 ahead of her in-person launch at Books Upstairs in Dublin later that day. A wonderful in-depth interview covering her life and work and celebrating her new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems, which is published in the UK and Ireland by Bloodaxe.
Rita Ann read and introduced poems from across the book: ‘Tommy’s Wife’, ‘Grandchildren’, ‘Sunny Side Plucked’, ‘Pater’ and her new poem ‘Pandora’s Cousins’.
‘It’s a well-deserved look back on a terrific life and career. It’s a great book […] and it is poetry for everyone – it absolutely is.’ – Brendan O’Connor, on Jiving with Wasps
‘Writer Rita Ann Higgins tells Brendan about writing one of Ireland’s first 'sexy poems’, what first inspired her and how she is still learning from her grandchildren. She also reads from her newly-published ‘greatest hits’ collection, Jiving with Wasps.’
The interview is available as a separate chapter, illustrated with a photo of Brendan O’Connor and Rita Ann pictured together in the studio.
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22596828/
INTERVIEW IN CONNACHT TRIBUNE
Connacht Tribune, Friday 27 March 2026
The Connacht Tribune ran a two-page interview with Galway poet Rita Ann Higgins on 27 March 2026 to mark publication of her third Bloodaxe retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems. Rita Ann was speaking to Judy Murphy about the book.
In print on 27 March 2026. Available to view online without subscription.
Rita Ann Higgins’ new retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems was chosen as a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation for Spring 2026. As such, it was featured in the Spring PBS Bulletin, where it was reviewed by Selector Fred D'Aguiar.
'Celebration of the everyday, that we may take for granted, powers much of these poems that span some forty years. [...] The town and country, nay the whole island, shines in her tones of light and dark with the occasional blast of colour. Long may she reign, at least unofficially, as Irish Poet Laureate.' – Fred D'Aguiar, PBS Selector, Poetry Book Society Bulletin
In print only. The Bulletin is sent to members of the Poetry Book Society.
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PAST RTÉ RADIO INTERVIEWS FEATURING POEMS FROM JIVING WITH WASPS
Arena, RTÉ Radio 1, Tuesday 28 October 2025, 7-8pm
Poet Rita Ann Higgins was Rick O’Shea’s guest on Arena on 28 October 2025 ahead of an event at Dublin Book Festival on 6 November. She joined Rick down the line from Galway.
Rita Ann read and introduced her poems ‘I Liked My Father at Halloween’ and ‘All Souls’ Day’ from her collection The Long Weekend (Gill, 2024). Both of these poems are included in her third Bloodaxe retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems. Later on in the programme she read two new poems ‘Renvyle Swim’ and ‘MRI’, both of which are in Jiving with Wasps, and spoke about the process of choosing poems for the book with her Bloodaxe editor Neil Astley.
Rita Ann also spoke about a TV series she is working on. Details are still under wraps, but it’s a dark comedy with an undisclosed number of half-hour episodes.
‘Poet and playwright Rita Ann Higgins discusses Ní chuireann sí fiacail ann | She tells it straight, a bilingual reading and conversation with Laureate for Irish Fiction Éilís Ní Dhuibhn at this year’s Dublin Book Festival.’
This 15-minute interview with Rita Ann Higgins is available as a podcast here.
Arena, RTÉ Radio 1, Tuesday 5 March 2024, 7-8pm
Ahead of a special event in Galway celebrating her life and work, Rita Ann Higgins spoke to Seán Rocks on RTE Radio 1's Arena on 5 March 2024.
She read her poems 'Goddess on the Mervue Bus' and 'Old Soldier' from her 2005 retrospective Throw in the Vowels: New & Selected Poems, among others.
Listen here.
Rita Ann Higgins wrote about 'learning to accept praise' for RTÉ Culture online ahead of this event. The page also includes a video of Rita reading ten poems.
Read the piece here.
A recording of the event is available on Vimeo here.
Sunday Miscellany, RTÉ Radio 1, Sunday 7 August 2022, 9.10-10am
Galway poet Rita Ann Higgins read two new poems on Sunday Miscellany on 7 August 2022. ‘King Crab’ was a tribute to fellow Bloodaxe Irish poet, the late Matthew Sweeney. Both poems are included in Rita Ann Higgins’ third Bloodaxe retrospective Jiving with Wasps: New & Selected Poems – published by Bloodaxe in March 2026.
‘King Crab’: a tribute to the late Matthew Sweeney
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22129774/
‘My Mother Loved Me in Red’ closed the show.
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22129781/
ONLINE LAUNCH EVENT
Tuesday 24 March 2026, 7pm - YouTube
Online launch reading by Lily Blacksell, Rita Ann Higgins and John McCullough
Lily Blacksell, Rita Ann Higgins and John McCullough celebrated the publication of their new books by reading live and discussing their work with the host, Bloodaxe editor Neil Astley.
This free Bloodaxe launch event was streamed on YouTube Live and is now available on this YouTube page: https://youtube.com/live/p_0hOeoZUtE
[26 March 2026]
