Observe, a flea: Artist Talk with Gustav Parker Hibbett

Frustrated Writers’ Group in collaboration with the Irish Writers Centre

So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite ’em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Thus every poet, in his kind,
Is bit by him that comes behind (…)

– Jonathan Swift, ‘On Poetry: a Rapsody’

There’s a flea problem on Parnell Square.

Across 2025, Frustrated Writers’ Group, in collaboration with Irish Writers Centre, is hosting a series of artist talks exploring the work and practice of some of Ireland’s best prose-writers, editors and poets. For the fourth session, Frustrated Writers’ Group member and poet Rafael Mendes will be joined by a poet and essayist Gustav Parker Hibbett.

Frustrated Writers’ Group (FWG) are a collective of mostly emerging writers, who hold monthly workshops, publish anthologies and hold literary events. Irish Writers Centre is Ireland’s flagship resource and development centre for writers at all stages of their journey.

This series of five artist talks is aimed at writers who are at an emerging stage in their work – eager for in-depth discussion on technique, aesthetics and politics, and keen to develop their craft. There’ll be plenty of time at the end for your questions too – don’t hold back!

The talks draw on the DIY spirit of the Frustrated Writers’ Group free monthly workshops at the Unit 44 venue in Dublin. They’ll be just as welcoming, vibrant and challenging, serving as a collaborative literary education. Since 2022, FWG have established a genuine community of writers – now, you are invited to be part of this at the Irish Writers Centre on Parnell Square.

About the guests

Photograph of Gustav Parker Hibbett. Photographer: Abbie McNeice

Gustav Parker Hibbett is a Black poet, essayist, and MFA dropout. Their debut poetry collection, High Jump as Icarus Story (Banshee Press), was shortlisted for the 2024 T.S. Eliot Prize and the 2025 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize. They are the 2025 Commissioned Writer for Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, and they are currently pursuing a PhD in Literary Practice at Trinity College Dublin, where they are an Early Career Research Fellow at the Long Room Hub.

Photograph of Rafael Mendes. Photographer: Ferdia Mooney

Rafael Mendes is a Brazilian-Irish migrant whose work has recently appeared or is upcoming in Poetry Ireland Review, Propel Magazine, and Poetry Salzburg Review. He is a PhD candidate in Latin American Studies at Trinity College Dublin and a creative writing workshop facilitator. He won the Ireland Chair of Poetry Pamphlet Series 2025.

Access our building

Please note that the ‘Observe, a flea’ series will be held in-person at the Irish Writers Centre (19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1). For information on accessibility, please see the ‘venue’ section of the Irish Writers Centre website.

An audio recording of the conversation will be made available to anyone who cannot attend for accessibility reasons (no need to buy a ticket). E-mail frustratedwritersgroup at gmail dot com, or DM via the Instagram.

There will also be a gathering in a wheelchair-accessible pub (tbc), after the event, from 4.30 pm. All are welcome. Follow FWG on Instagram (@frustrated_____writers) for more information & updates.

This is the fourth in a series of five artist talks. Future guests include editors Lisa McInerney and Emily Cooper (Saturday 18 October 2025) of The Stinging Fly and The Pig’s Back respectively.

The ‘Observe, a flea’ series is supported by Dublin City Council. The Irish Writers Centre is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland