Tattoo Feature: How Dublin Ink Does Things Differently

Almost a decade in operation, Dublin Ink is one of the city’s most highly distinguished tattoo and piercing parlours. The renowned studio first opened its doors in 2009, when it was founded in the very heart of Dublin, and attracts clientele from around the world.

Dublin Ink houses seven resident artists and a new international guest artist visiting every week to every other week. The guest artists flock from an array of other countries, including Poland, Hungary and Portugal, as well as Brazil, Australia and America.

“The standard in Dublin is certainly much higher now,” says Kevin McNamara, who started his career as a tattoo artist at Dublin Ink eight years ago. “In terms of demographics, of who comes to the shop, it’s always getting broader and broader . We get lots of 18 to 50 plus year-olds, men and women, from every culture – it doesn’t matter.”

Over the course of the past 10 years, McNamara has seen the interest in tattoos shift.

“When I was started, Japanese art was big,” he reflects. “Everyone was getting kois and dragons and other oriental motifs. Back in the day, religious work was very, popular. Black and grey religious tattoos have kind of transcended into more black and grey realism today.”

Although tattooing trends have changed throughout the years, the attitude of those at Dublin Ink has remained the same.

“We always wanted to be more friendly,” McNamara notes, “and do the best tattoos we can and provide a great customer experience. And host some of the best guest artists around the globe, while striving to bring something different to Ireland.”

Sauls Court, 4 Cows Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 671 8888 / dublininktattoo.com