Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog): Irish heritage

Showing posts with label Irish heritage. Show all posts

Kristina: Aon Grá

Over the summer, we were having a yard sale, when Kristina stopped by to peruse the goods. She shared this, one of her four tattoos: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S6s050ktGznYriTvVPMBPIgPMRI5drh7irPNLe_psyPyIjldYRKJ1uzytqVroT2GZGbgehcpdPRtPVM9meJBrWkYojEKL8jz3szaWk-TsiUHGe6CxR0kUa2IOapBWbR-wSuLmrW6Lsk/s1600/aon+gra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S6s050ktGznYriTvVPMBPIgPMRI5drh7irPNLe_psyPyIjldYRKJ1uzytqVroT2GZGbgehcpdPRtPVM9meJBrWkYojEKL8jz3szaWk-TsiUHGe6CxR0kUa2IOapBWbR-wSuLmrW6Lsk/s640/aon+gra.jpg" width="466" /></a></div> Located on the inside of her right arm, the phrase "aon grá" is Irish for "one love". This decorative tattoo with a powerful message was tattooed by Rob at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> in Bay Ridge. Work from the shop which, due to its close proximity to "home base" for Tattoosday, has appeared often over the years on the site, and can be seen <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">here</a>. Thanks to Kristina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!  <div class="MsoNormal">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</div>

Kristina: Aon Grá

Over the summer, we were having a yard sale, when Kristina stopped by to peruse the goods. She shared this, one of her four tattoos: Located...

3:33 AM

A Quartet of Tattoos from Greg

I met Greg outside of Madison Square Garden last fall, and he happily shared several of his tattoos, inspired by magic and mythology. On his upper left arm is this wizard: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOGDgFl4-09xqV0lmAZ1fkUtJ8aArDLpzFiTStDDUvNuyZ1S6eKSGIzUw4C35VrgdjkbVLR4lR15dyBQFNQlOPHwAJhqXVGvjL5E3ASPfSnpEMZyN8W_n74qi9-nFLxbNjXAw-lzkrUA/s1600/Greg+Wizard_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOGDgFl4-09xqV0lmAZ1fkUtJ8aArDLpzFiTStDDUvNuyZ1S6eKSGIzUw4C35VrgdjkbVLR4lR15dyBQFNQlOPHwAJhqXVGvjL5E3ASPfSnpEMZyN8W_n74qi9-nFLxbNjXAw-lzkrUA/s640/Greg+Wizard_picnik.jpg" width="286" /></a></div> On his upper right arm, he shared this dragon: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3_ldlAoGrjOpIktznbOU805C2DyPZwrozlC-sg6KIXB6SHRMt3vt9pPKpV9d4uq2fWg4NhTZM1kpxqT5-3bEA8ect6Z-j_yz33eLfA6pND_yjvu_UIKrgZNmeHCaZaERJvc_VCqyxNU/s1600/Greg+Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3_ldlAoGrjOpIktznbOU805C2DyPZwrozlC-sg6KIXB6SHRMt3vt9pPKpV9d4uq2fWg4NhTZM1kpxqT5-3bEA8ect6Z-j_yz33eLfA6pND_yjvu_UIKrgZNmeHCaZaERJvc_VCqyxNU/s640/Greg+Dragon.jpg" width="302" /></a></div> Below that, on his forearm, is this fiery skull: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnCg7_c-Eki3MAoyW270qQUUJvPr9n77shfbZkBagh8uOtJPWL454C-82XOIfTb-ity4QRcniQiCuULYL1WTHrCpLJQVVzkaNWtJeTrN96GXEOnw5_B7Xq7Lry2MYauUXYJU1BuJLXs/s1600/Greg+Skull+Fire_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnCg7_c-Eki3MAoyW270qQUUJvPr9n77shfbZkBagh8uOtJPWL454C-82XOIfTb-ity4QRcniQiCuULYL1WTHrCpLJQVVzkaNWtJeTrN96GXEOnw5_B7Xq7Lry2MYauUXYJU1BuJLXs/s640/Greg+Skull+Fire_picnik.jpg" width="180" /></a></div> And, in a tribute to his Irish heritage, is this coat of arms, with the Irish colors: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMKUTHqFKA8UY_EhoEQcoe8AwWFCMyUohIBZNW4g6eIcPUdrmme33QGFmTqIrlK_9KzHVDf8vGaw0QrnWF58yVEyj2OFEoaX-5Es6_wMcSWkoHUSA5DX5OIX3OqKKF_JUARFmQ65irbk/s1600/Greg+Irish+Coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMKUTHqFKA8UY_EhoEQcoe8AwWFCMyUohIBZNW4g6eIcPUdrmme33QGFmTqIrlK_9KzHVDf8vGaw0QrnWF58yVEyj2OFEoaX-5Es6_wMcSWkoHUSA5DX5OIX3OqKKF_JUARFmQ65irbk/s400/Greg+Irish+Coat.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> Greg credited Eddie and Ray, at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/luckyheartstattoo">Lucky Hearts Tattoo</a> in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the artists responsible for his work. Thanks to Greg for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

A Quartet of Tattoos from Greg

I met Greg outside of Madison Square Garden last fall, and he happily shared several of his tattoos, inspired by magic and mythology. On his...

3:06 AM

The Tattooed Poets Project: Moira Egan's Literary Ink, A Little Bit of Ireland, All the Way from Rome

Today's tattoo comes to us from across the Atlantic, contributed by <a href="http://www.moiraegan.com/">Moira Egan</a>, a poet living in Rome, Italy: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDLITlP8uN9RK3LqTZ3pm9ZyB6HYJHifCQnphcFZkz45S2r9fqNsHNk6faMZXV2ZWrbRdxObcHpeo3NsaRARDNoyDZ57ok-OjrYSJQFwaNaxvcpAKIUKk6kF6MhIOnR2m_koFKA_ZDqI/s1600-h/Egan_ink.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323775206989612274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDLITlP8uN9RK3LqTZ3pm9ZyB6HYJHifCQnphcFZkz45S2r9fqNsHNk6faMZXV2ZWrbRdxObcHpeo3NsaRARDNoyDZ57ok-OjrYSJQFwaNaxvcpAKIUKk6kF6MhIOnR2m_koFKA_ZDqI/s400/Egan_ink.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> Hers is a literary tattoo. Moira reports, it's: <blockquote>"A page corner from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells">Book of Kells</a> (an illuminated manuscript that's housed in <a href="http://www.trincoll.edu/">Trinity College</a>, Dublin), in this version, housed a couple of inches below my left <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavicle">clavicle</a>. <a href="http://vinniemyers.com/home.html">Little Vinnie</a> of <a href="http://littlevinniestattoos.net/portfolio.html">Little Vinnie's Tattoos</a> in Maryland is the artist, and this was done on Memorial Day of 1993. In fact, Vinnie was kind enough to open the shop that day for me and my brother and a friend. A good way to Memorialize a day."</blockquote> Moira added, "since I'm Irish-American, and a writer, well it seemed appropriate". Indeed, please check out one of Moira's poems, both in English and Italian, over on <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/">BillyBlog</a>.

The Tattooed Poets Project: Moira Egan's Literary Ink, A Little Bit of Ireland, All the Way from Rome

Today's tattoo comes to us from across the Atlantic, contributed by Moira Egan , a poet living in Rome, Italy: Hers is a literary tattoo...

9:05 PM

Vicki's Shamrock Tattoo

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIPp_v9adk23FGQFkes8c63ECfo1nYaly40NFHiFmU7ILarALKjxV1M088b8PeDb4TVVhfCCMAzUGAtpbU_Lj_2-zERHvq4MUyvK8xXKzqaqibRUtvEUFE8vQCumDM0z5u2LvFAVRDYF4/s1600-h/untitled1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238505286658351906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIPp_v9adk23FGQFkes8c63ECfo1nYaly40NFHiFmU7ILarALKjxV1M088b8PeDb4TVVhfCCMAzUGAtpbU_Lj_2-zERHvq4MUyvK8xXKzqaqibRUtvEUFE8vQCumDM0z5u2LvFAVRDYF4/s400/untitled1.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Earlier this month, I posted <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/08/newborn-tattoo-for-newborn-daughter.html">this tattoo</a> which was a tribute to Olivia Rose, a new daughter born to Vicki. I mentioned in the post that it was Vicki's tattoo below her neck which first grabbed my attention, but that Vicki offered up her newer piece for us here at Tattoosday. Vicki has recently sent me a photo of the original tattoo I saw on her. It's a nice, simple shamrock and hearts. This, like the other piece, was inked at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/truebluetattoonyc">True Blue Tattoo</a> in Queens. <a href="http://www.alexmcwatt.com/">Alex McWatt</a> is the artist. Vicki writes: "I got the design for a few reasons. First of all, I am Irish and I wanted to get something to celebrate my heritage without getting a flag tattoo. Second, my boyfriend, the love of my life, is 100% Irish, and I wanted to get a tattoo to symbolism me and him - that is what the two hearts are for. I chose to get it on the back of my neck so it would be out there for the world to see." Thanks again to Vicki for sharing her ink here with us on Tattoosday!

Vicki's Shamrock Tattoo

Earlier this month, I posted this tattoo which was a tribute to Olivia Rose, a new daughter born to Vicki. I mentioned in the post that it ...

2:27 AM

Vincent Bears the Spear of Longinus

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_-qzM-nwPa00mmi-GAQA_iTtAFCnLLLv28v19ybc0skCaptxhnk50ctuFp7AzhKcFYE_wRJG0e9b2Gq3iXiYDSg06HZdjJ_Euv0mrbEbCG2Npi2d8quu4LyKZBhbf9XDQ4NjhCaDzFEh/s1600-h/PICT0532.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238556915748945106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_-qzM-nwPa00mmi-GAQA_iTtAFCnLLLv28v19ybc0skCaptxhnk50ctuFp7AzhKcFYE_wRJG0e9b2Gq3iXiYDSg06HZdjJ_Euv0mrbEbCG2Npi2d8quu4LyKZBhbf9XDQ4NjhCaDzFEh/s400/PICT0532.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I met Vincent Corrigan on the way to the subway on 33rd Street between 7th and 6th Avenues. It was a giant arm piece that crawled up under his shirt and onto his shoulder that first caught my eye. However, he offered up the piece above and, in the course of speaking with him, I took pictures of three other tattoos that were notable. I am going to discuss them in reverse order. First, this piece may be familiar to many: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvGw7NUC7BVVAZSAyJ6rZzf-7lOJvjMIa-aZuf7moRlU84Npch9LEwUfVoGyoGzYp8qi5Qip3I4y-u-z4k5lwbG84MZIrxjwm26fcpsasSjH6I_3EFbNopVEvxvVkNgFWFpF5mXbTBqGJ/s1600-h/PICT0534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238558421649210050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvGw7NUC7BVVAZSAyJ6rZzf-7lOJvjMIa-aZuf7moRlU84Npch9LEwUfVoGyoGzYp8qi5Qip3I4y-u-z4k5lwbG84MZIrxjwm26fcpsasSjH6I_3EFbNopVEvxvVkNgFWFpF5mXbTBqGJ/s400/PICT0534.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> That's the <a href="http://landingpage.guinness.com/Gateway-en-row.htm?Lang=en-us&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.guinness.com%2fTemplates%2fRedirectToGateway.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b7892FE09-EC41-4F5B-A336-9EAC47569C2F%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26NRCACHEHINT%3dGuest">Guinness</a> harp, a trademark recognizable to beer connoisseurs: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZrjkdIAHzOMrcZwPJO9nu-v4JwgKTOsSave35vbd3drgHmLpa06DAp0h9EkZ3uzG7l3M99ydRpJGjoHdtrvQ0lpfhoeaihbKVvsWLQjh4cNtyuYvS2cKaZs6bP6CFoPQr7r_66llZj1x/s1600-h/guinness_harp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238584648742954994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZrjkdIAHzOMrcZwPJO9nu-v4JwgKTOsSave35vbd3drgHmLpa06DAp0h9EkZ3uzG7l3M99ydRpJGjoHdtrvQ0lpfhoeaihbKVvsWLQjh4cNtyuYvS2cKaZs6bP6CFoPQr7r_66llZj1x/s400/guinness_harp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 314px;" /></a> Not to overstate the obvious, but Guinness is a dry stout beer that originated in Dublin, and is thus a matter of pride for the Irish. Mr. Corrigan, as one might venture from his surname, is of Irish ancestry. The harp is on the top of his left bicep and is one of his older pieces. In fact, he credits <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/RYOKOBIO%20.html">Ryoko</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/WELCOME.html">Brooklyn Tattoo</a> for taking what was previously a bit of shoddy inkwork, revitalizing it with some excellent restoration and making a respectable tattoo out of it. Further down the arm, on Vincent's inner left forearm, are two symbols I recognized immediately: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3Sb4I_9VVsx4Dw1ZcePVwTQLc7xGZ_-BOVlflghX0pl9hyVdQsBXuqbjbEFTnxvG1dVjOPegXuKQNaPLrYrBDs0jp4PPY1QBEd4rahVI04WZb5zY61qVr2c84OhtrlJVZ0DDDaY38Nzf/s1600-h/PICT0533.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238558759593677794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3Sb4I_9VVsx4Dw1ZcePVwTQLc7xGZ_-BOVlflghX0pl9hyVdQsBXuqbjbEFTnxvG1dVjOPegXuKQNaPLrYrBDs0jp4PPY1QBEd4rahVI04WZb5zY61qVr2c84OhtrlJVZ0DDDaY38Nzf/s400/PICT0533.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The top one is the logo familiar to fans of the band <a href="http://www.audioslave.com/">Audioslave</a>. The fiery emblem appeared on the band's debut album cover.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J6nZSG3VdnJleUFcWIod5bDbAuuko3OrORPb6ivkA5A33jNrbPLNk3d8M06SDm77tIeuYPIOuUbmFtU_a0s7nfEM57XXfovdm8DXgttSL7Y-3zeYIg3gmWuKup13tV5zQE2alN3KiSfh/s1600-h/audioslave_-_audioslave-front.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238585917742266818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J6nZSG3VdnJleUFcWIod5bDbAuuko3OrORPb6ivkA5A33jNrbPLNk3d8M06SDm77tIeuYPIOuUbmFtU_a0s7nfEM57XXfovdm8DXgttSL7Y-3zeYIg3gmWuKup13tV5zQE2alN3KiSfh/s200/audioslave_-_audioslave-front.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Vince is a singer and a huge fan of the singer <a href="http://www.chriscornell.com/">Chris Cornell</a> (lead singer of Audioslave, and more famously, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundgarden">Soundgarden</a>). I also am a fan of Cornell's (although I haven't seen him in concert, unlike Vince who guesses he's seen him twenty times). Below the Audioslave logo is one of the four runes representing band members from <a href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/">Led Zeppelin</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UxZTa2emLXuKg8l8Sr3ZjONclWHGCpPcdlrIGXBWiaVMRLNzofmsXlZ9AYL1wGpoNJPhqLbxGexhX4yEUK4t5X9JLEA912AWOUYKdLueTV2w30wfQiiJ85kTHlcyp_HF0nF2ZfIFhjg/s1600-h/zep4ad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238588240879519778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UxZTa2emLXuKg8l8Sr3ZjONclWHGCpPcdlrIGXBWiaVMRLNzofmsXlZ9AYL1wGpoNJPhqLbxGexhX4yEUK4t5X9JLEA912AWOUYKdLueTV2w30wfQiiJ85kTHlcyp_HF0nF2ZfIFhjg/s320/zep4ad.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> These runes appeared first on the band's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zeppelin_IV">fourth album</a>. The rune tattooed on Vincent's arm is the one on the far right and according to Wikipedia: <blockquote> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Plant" title="Robert Plant">Robert Plant</a>'s symbol is the feather of the Egyptian goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%27at" title="Ma'at">Ma'at</a>, representing truth, justice, fairness and writing, encapsulated by an unbroken circle representing life. According to Egyptian mythology, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris" title="Osiris">Osiris</a>, the god of judgment and death, would take the heart of those who died and put it on a balance with the feather of Ma'at. If the heart outweighed the feather, the person's soul would go to hell, but on the other hand, if the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would go to heaven.</div></blockquote> However, Plant's rune is significant to Vincent because he is the lead singer. And now to the amazing piece at the top of this post, well worth another look: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TrSmLMS-wd0UQ_ZtQhiPAobwXYNp84TDr5g6TLaErcrIcy7CwHohWRXgeTHsgGWrSMDBq0NKbGxeQfXEwGuf2Fd7eW35S4p5ixSNyMiIl3u6Y9w1vN5NYbs0-dvFfPPvnF_Irhk5mHR9/s1600-h/spear2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238558081464481858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TrSmLMS-wd0UQ_ZtQhiPAobwXYNp84TDr5g6TLaErcrIcy7CwHohWRXgeTHsgGWrSMDBq0NKbGxeQfXEwGuf2Fd7eW35S4p5ixSNyMiIl3u6Y9w1vN5NYbs0-dvFfPPvnF_Irhk5mHR9/s400/spear2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Vincent indicates that this is the "Spear of Longinus," one of the many names given to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Lance">The Holy Lance</a>, which was the weapon used to pierce the side of Jesus Christ during the Crucifixion. The name <a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Vincent">Vincent</a> has an origin in the meaning of the word conqueror and the surname <a href="http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Corrigan">Corrigan</a> derives from a root word which means "spear" or "lance". It is this primary parallel that gave Vincent the urge to ink this relic of Christianity onto his arm. It appears that the tattoo is modeled after the Hofburg Spear which is kept in Vienna. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM08hCK488EsULguzTVsWYm8-VJwrkQVT3Ds3RmExWH4_m_f6uCjTqsOLa19VPOcrX21IuWUYs7U1tsboaoJEi3rMJYWarkpAT57foDhGNBsE0G5bQV0Xzt-GzP5OU_G_znjoEIXu7HyE/s1600-h/holy-lance.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238595427628536258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM08hCK488EsULguzTVsWYm8-VJwrkQVT3Ds3RmExWH4_m_f6uCjTqsOLa19VPOcrX21IuWUYs7U1tsboaoJEi3rMJYWarkpAT57foDhGNBsE0G5bQV0Xzt-GzP5OU_G_znjoEIXu7HyE/s320/holy-lance.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> This spear is an object of fascination in literature and the arts, often as the subject matter for narratives pertaining to the Crusades, with a link in some cases to Ireland. This brings the spear of Longinus an additional link to Vincent's pride in his Irish ancestry. The spear tattoo, along with the Audioslave and Robert Plant tattoos, was inked by artist <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ericwigger">Eric Wigger</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/devilsrosetattoo">The Devil's Rose Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Point,_New_York">Blue Point, New York</a>, on Long Island. Thanks to Vincent for sharing all his ink with us here at Tattoosday!

Vincent Bears the Spear of Longinus

I met Vincent Corrigan on the way to the subway on 33rd Street between 7th and 6th Avenues. It was a giant arm piece that crawled up under h...

2:28 AM

The World is His

Thursday (April 17) was the most beautiful day yet this spring, but I was at work sans camera and passing out Tattoosday fliers without the possibility of taking pictures seemed lame. Remember, this blog is not just about tattoos, but about the pursuit of interesting tattoo stories as well. Thanks to <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/12/tattoos-i-know-brookes-courage.html">Brooke</a>, however, I was armed with a camera phone on my lunch break, as I ran a couple of errands. And it was walking on 23rd street that I met a guy from my neck of the woods with some ink on his arms. I am always fascinated by examples of words people choose to inscribe in their flesh. This is on his right forearm: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHUNYYcu4PGwInR11iC-DaWdi9E3Eu8026lPg75lY-w0VfxSM1mp6tq7SO_mts0E7Ir2cnUAgyqjIySKUGPGeZPt5tHyIyeM9b1_EdJnEFE_Lz-sdxEendkNvCep3cb9UzCyaoW5ZNPM5/s1600-h/noname.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190426473305251138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHUNYYcu4PGwInR11iC-DaWdi9E3Eu8026lPg75lY-w0VfxSM1mp6tq7SO_mts0E7Ir2cnUAgyqjIySKUGPGeZPt5tHyIyeM9b1_EdJnEFE_Lz-sdxEendkNvCep3cb9UzCyaoW5ZNPM5/s400/noname.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGnGJFYAxdpc4JMLXjBk95iNvRHK0RDYKITcikme9Cj2YkPArtqxQ4_HCMR0jN2_cpblI4tfWhh1j0a2Irc77e0niT_prJGIHMFMWVsDrOxEjoq2CUO2Aqh-MtAKIf0gMOSCMvHM_uwsT/s1600-h/846503~Scarface-Posters.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193259013726663858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGnGJFYAxdpc4JMLXjBk95iNvRHK0RDYKITcikme9Cj2YkPArtqxQ4_HCMR0jN2_cpblI4tfWhh1j0a2Irc77e0niT_prJGIHMFMWVsDrOxEjoq2CUO2Aqh-MtAKIf0gMOSCMvHM_uwsT/s400/846503~Scarface-Posters.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 238px;" /></a> Our tattoo host said that it's a quote from the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086250/">Scarface</a>, one of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003932/">Tony Montana's</a> many mottos, delivered with gusto by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000199/">Al Pacino</a>. I couldn't find any direct quotes on the web, but it makes sense, based on the existence of a video game called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451192/">Scarface: The World is Yours</a>. In addition, his left arm had three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock">shamrocks</a>, which were recently inked: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjztiWAG_vyZtfNqabXR_kXkc8NQ-LuMexUQABtpv-839gPWaqlYw-UbACv1z3OhJtIQJwO9mCEfln4rXHgXX3bRcWW-3YjXlpeLc_qnaTLT5Q1I2uwQvkbwQj5vrSrrq2eMxPXEw6SVG/s1600-h/noname-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190426417470676274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjztiWAG_vyZtfNqabXR_kXkc8NQ-LuMexUQABtpv-839gPWaqlYw-UbACv1z3OhJtIQJwO9mCEfln4rXHgXX3bRcWW-3YjXlpeLc_qnaTLT5Q1I2uwQvkbwQj5vrSrrq2eMxPXEw6SVG/s400/noname-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzdX6PDGDozp6UzoR5d7D4E8HYdNgPwhhMzFUVJSs2FlA7s5F1pPU8F1NCo0NDUEe3afxaXimYBXkIeAlAwsVy8HQDVTYllZyXnEo6CRHq0vMSHQVphInN4BLekcRuIk-dCqzCvXXWNlK/s1600-h/125px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193258957892088994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzdX6PDGDozp6UzoR5d7D4E8HYdNgPwhhMzFUVJSs2FlA7s5F1pPU8F1NCo0NDUEe3afxaXimYBXkIeAlAwsVy8HQDVTYllZyXnEo6CRHq0vMSHQVphInN4BLekcRuIk-dCqzCvXXWNlK/s400/125px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>It's a celebration of his Irish ancestry. They're just outlines right now, but he plans to fill them in with green, orange, and white ink, to represent the flag of Ireland. Both of these tattoos were inked at <a href="http://newyork.citysearch.com/review/42308553">Groove Tattoos</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Ridge,_Brooklyn">Bay Ridge, Brooklyn</a>. When I mentioned that I had work from <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/">Body Art Studios</a>, he flashed some print on the backs of his biceps, indicating that those were inked there too. Thanks to our anonymous friend for sharing his ink here at Tattoosday!

The World is His

Thursday (April 17) was the most beautiful day yet this spring, but I was at work sans camera and passing out Tattoosday fliers without the ...

11:41 AM

Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

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