I have to admit that I knew next to nothing about Ireland before we went on this trip. I read a book on Irish history (or more of a historical novel) but nothing really sunk in. I knew that Guinness comes from there and my half Irish husband Kevin loves Guinness so through Kevin I had some sort of connection. 

We flew into Dublin for the Guinness factory first thing. The next day we took a 4 hour bus ride to Derry where the convention was being held. Derry is in Northern Ireland and even though we did not get to see views of the touted western coast the rolling hills and green counrty side allong the bus route made me look forward to future trips with more time to explore. Derry itself is a beautiful historic city and the only completely walled city in Ireland with walls built from 1613-1618. Now the walls serve as a walkway or promenade around the inner city about a mile long so it makes for a nice stroll.

This was the second Maiden City Ink show. Derry is nicknamed the Maiden City because it's walls were never breached back in the day when they worked to fortify the city. Here'a few picturesfrom the show with a couple of the tattoos I did.  I really didn't get many pictures in since I was tattooing all weekend. It was one of the smallest conventions I'd ever worked and yet it was as busy as any other show I've been to.  The size of the town, the size of the crowd and the number of artists seemed to be in perfect proportion. Everyone was working away and both days I had to turn down customers with a full schedule. We met so many great people between the customers, the crowd, the tattooers (hey Albert at Nautica! )  and especially the organizers. Gary, China and everyone else went out of their way to be sure we were looked after.  I even won a trophy for a snake and dagger for "Best Old School Tattoo" That was a really nice surprise since I didn't even know John was entering the contest! (Thanks for everything John!!)

The trend in conventions these days seems to be to see who can throw a bigger tattoo show than anyone else.  Biggest either in square footage, number of tattoo artists or number of vendors with results both good and more often than not bad.  The only person I've met who's managed to get the crowds and the artists necessary to consistently succeed at the mega show is Miki who runs the London and Milan shows. There's others out there that I haven't made it to but Miki is up to his 14th show in Milan, it's not his first rodeo and he has the formula down. I'm hearing about more and more conventions these days with lots of tattooers sitting around with not enough people to fill up the aisles let alone sit down and get tattooed. Add a high price at the door and the crowd gets cut in half. 

Bigger does not always mean better for a convention. This was a great opportunity to visit a place we might not have visited otherwise. The people were probably the friendliest we've met *anywhere*.  Don't let the "troubles" keep you away from such a nice place to visit. We will be sure to go back, that is if we're invited.... (us Daredevils are notorious trouble makers wherever we go ;)

I got to see my friend Tommy's shop in Dublin. Super cool shop by the way Classic Ink Tattooin Temple Bar. But Dublin is not the whole of Ireland,  so try to get out and enjoy the country side while you're there and get up north!