Ross Hattaway is originally from New Zealand and has lived in Ireland for more than two decades. His poetry has been widely published in Ireland and overseas in many outlets including, Flare, Poetry Australia, The Raintown Review, Outburst, Prole, Ink, Sweat and Tears and panningforpoems.
Publications and Achievements
Ross has four collections of poetry. The two most recent titles were published by Turas Press:
- Plain (Turas Press, 2022)
- How to Sleep with Strangers (Turas Press, 2018)
- Pretending to Be Dead (Seven Towers, 2016)
- The Gentle Art of Rotting (Seven Towers, 2014)
Ross has performed his poetry in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Lithuania. His work has been translated into Russian.
Reviews and Reception
Elizabeth Knox comments on Ross’s first Turas Press collection:
“How to Sleep with Strangers is a mix of obliquity both alarming and reassuring – like the idea of fate. These poems play and pun, and sometimes come close and whisper something terribly sad and shocking in your ear.”
Fióna Bolger reacts to Plain
“In this collection, Hattaway is speaking to us from the shadows. These poems are tunnels into darkness, while reminding us also that ‘we do not do these things alone’. The poet does not tell us what we want to hear, but asks questions ‘like ratbites that fester and swell’. This is a collection of probing, reflective poems, with flickers of light at the end of their dark tunnels.”
As Ross’s second collection, Plain, was published during the Covid 19 pandemic, it was not possible to have an in-person launch. The online launch features Ross in conversation with Jo Burns, whose collection Brink was lauched at the same time, and Turas Press Director Liz McSkeane.
Ross is a founder member and organiser of the Sunflower Sessions, a monthly open-mic event held in Dublin city centre on the last Wednesday of every month. Check the Facebook page to confirm details of venue and time.