Rita Ann Higgins in Conversation Judy Murphy

Rita Ann Higgins is the author of thirteen books, including eleven collections of poetry, a memoir and a volume of poems and essays.

A playwright and screenwriter as well as a poet, Rita Ann’s work became a touchstone during the pandemic, when her poetry resonated with listeners on RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor Show. Her latest collection, The Long Weekend, gathers those bank holiday poems alongside new work, reflecting the moods and moments of the Irish calendar with humour, humanity and insight.

In 2021, she was awarded The Living Poets Society Award and is a member of Aosdána. Writer Elaine Feeney has described The Long Weekend as ‘a haunting, beautiful collection of poems’, and author Susannah Dickey praised it as ‘a work of immense thoughtfulness’.

Rita Ann Higgins brings warmth, wit and wisdom to her writing and readings alike. A voice of the people and a poet for every season.

Judy Murphy is an arts journalist and deputy editor of the Connacht Tribune.