Tattoo Feature: Designs For Life

Aside from music in all its many forms, tattoos have been my most enduring love affair. I was smitten by the then shadowy, secretive sub culture at an early age, and unlike favourite new bands, authors or even people, that attraction, much like my own ink, hasn’t faded over the last few decades. In fact, my enthusiasm has only grown which, considering the tattoo scene has now become mainstream and I’m very much a contrarian, I think says a lot about my devotion.

Like many other ink aficionados, my interest began at around the age of five or thereabouts, thanks to a small packet of bubblegum that came with some temporary tattoos. After carefully applying the skull and heart-based transfers with a hefty dollop of spit (health, safety and hygiene be damned!), they magically transformed you into the coolest kid in the playground. Thus, the seeds were sown for my eventual entry into the realm of blood, sweat and Bepanthen-covered cling-film (other nappy rash creams are available…).

A couple of years later, I got into metal and punk and many of the artists that I read about in magazines were tattooed, which certainly added to their mystique. In my pre-teens, I was fascinated by the designs sported by Ozzy Osbourne, as well as Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris. At around 13 or so, Phil Anselmo’s collection of body art sealed my decision to join the club too, and I began to seriously think about getting my own ink. My hope was that it would rival the Pantera frontman’s iconic “Unscarred” tattoo, which he bravely had done just above his navel.

Boy-scout that I am, I did my homework before getting my first of many tattoos, and decided to make Skullduggery Tatu in Belfast my port of call. Founded by Helen McDonnell in 2002, the highly respected, hugely knowledgeable Drogheda-born artist has earned herself an excellent reputation for her creativity and dedication to her craft over the years. Within seconds of entering her shop, I knew I had found the right person for the job.

My initial plan was to get four tattoos – two on each arm – and then I was done. After telling Helen my intentions, she laughed and warned, “Tattoos are like Pringles. You can never have just one or two, you always want more.” Nearly two decades on, and after many hours spent in Skullduggery’s chair, I can confirm she’s 100% correct. There’s always a space to fill or a memory to enshrine forever and for many, that’s a huge part of the appeal. Another alluring aspect of tattoos for me are their permanence. Unlike those aforementioned childhood transfers, they don’t wash off. They serve as an ever-present reminder of where, and in some cases, who you were. In an era of uncertainty, they provide a form of comfort and stability, which is something I think we all need nowadays.

I’ve been asked hundreds of times by random strangers why I get tattooed, and the best way I can describe the process is that it’s like the feeling you have after getting a really great haircut, only multiplied by 1000. Oh, and it’ll last for the rest of your days too. How’s that for value for money? Yes, there’s pain involved, but without sounding too emo about it, everything worthwhile hurts to some degree.

I also adore the fact that tattoos are only really limited by your imagination, and there’s always something new to inscribe on your flesh. While I’ll always cherish pieces like the pink diamond with the word “Mamaí” inked above it, which I got for the woman who brought me into the world, or the Bowie lyrics I had done a week after he passed, I’m actually more excited about the next one. As ever, it will mark the beginning of another new chapter in my life – and who doesn’t love a fresh start?