This week I went to the end of the top 100 Irish poems list. Number 90 is titled “For Rita With Love” by Pat Ingoldsby. I have also featured it in my top Irish love poems list.
As Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, I felt it appropriate to find a poem about love. I had previously started writing about number 83(Woodman, Patrick Deeley), but I could not find that poem anywhere online! Please let me know about that poem in the comments if you know about that poem.
But this touching Irish poem is about a different kind of love—a love for a person who has a disability. In particular, in this case, it is believed to be Down syndrome. But rather than reflect on the hardship she has to face, Ingoldsby speaks about how wonderful a person they are and how “Normal people will hurt you”, suggesting that she might get taken advantage of.
A powerful poem, for sure.
Remembering Pat Ingoldsby (1942–2025) ☘️
Pat Ingoldsby was born on August 25, 1942, in Malahide, Dublin, Ireland. A beloved figure in Irish poetry, Pat became known for his quirky, heartfelt, and humorous collections that captured the everyday magic of Irish life.
While he first gained recognition through TV and radio in the 1970s and 1980s, Pat largely disappeared from mainstream media in the mid-1990s. Instead, he brought poetry to the streets, selling his self-published books directly to the people of Dublin—often from a small bookstand on Westmoreland Street or outside Clery’s.
In 2015, Pat retired from street-selling, and according to his website, he could often be found at The Winding Stair Bookshop in Dublin city centre. Fans continue to cherish his words, and his legacy is lovingly preserved by those who share his poetry and memories.
If you’d like to revisit Pat’s world, check out this Facebook page that shares old photos of him, and read our feature on one of his most touching poems, “For Rita, With Love.”
Pat’s words live on, as does his unique presence in Irish literary history. Rest in peace, Pat. Dublin won’t be the same without you. 💚
Who is Pat Ingoldsby?
Pat Ingoldsby was born on 25 August 1942 in Malahide, Dublin, Ireland. Pat stepped away from mainstream media in the mid-1990s and is best known for his poetry collections. Previously, he would be selling them on the streets of Dublin (usually on Westmoreland Street).
According to his website, since 2015, he has retired from selling on the streets. In his later years, his website said he could most often be found at The Winding Stair Bookshop, in Dublin city centre.
I also came across this Facebook page that shares old photos of Pat.
Now back to his poem; it is a deep and meaningful poem.
For Rita With Love by Pat Ingoldsby
If you’re not normal / There is very little hope / For the rest of us.
Pat Ingoldsby wrote this poem to a young girl called Rita, who travels to and from a special school. Many readers take her to have Down syndrome, though the poem never names it.
Rita loves everyone she meets, openly and without fear. The speaker worries about that, because the world is not always kind and people who call themselves normal may take advantage of her. Yet one small moment with a lonely stranger shows how much good her warmth can do.
By the end, the poem turns the idea of normal on its head. Rita’s way of loving is the right one, and it is the rest of us who fall short. It is written in plain, everyday language, which is why it hits so hard, and Irish Times readers voted it into their list of 100 favourite Irish poems.
Pat self-published most of his poetry through his own Willow Publications and sold the books himself on the streets of Dublin. The poem is not published online by an authorised source, so look for his collections in Dublin bookshops to read it in full.
I have to say it is one of my favourite, most powerful Irish poems. Overall, “For Rita With Love” portrays Rita as a symbol of pure, unreserved love and questions the constraints imposed by societal norms. Through her actions, the poem encourages readers to reflect on their own attitudes toward others and to consider the value of embracing differences and showing genuine compassion.
And reminds all of us not to put any limitations on ourselves. A truly great poem by Pat Ingoldsby. If you liked these types of Irish love poems, you can read my full list here.