Review & Interview: Tattoo Festival At Marlogue Inn

Photo by Michael Hade Event Photography

The Traditional Tattoo & World Culture Festival, 11th & 12th July, Marlougue Inn, Cobh, Co. Cork.

In just two days, we managed to sneak a peek at an eclectic number of visuals and audio feats right here in Cobh at the Marlogue Inn – Traditional Tattoo & World Culture Festival.

“You know what? its really good to see so many great events happening in Cobh, this is the perfect example look around everyone having fun, and these aren’t the people you’d expect to see mingling at all, my kids are having a blast here, I wish there was something like this more often, There is something for us and also plenty to keep the kids happy too, everybody is so friendly cant wait for next year although I hope the weather is a lot better though, I may even consider getting a tattoo myself” That was the first reaction I got from smiling happy mother, Hilda Geary before I went on my way to see what all the fuss was about.

Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin	Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin
Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin	Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin

So over the 11th & 12th of July, Marlogue Inn became the home to Irish set dancing, camping sites, burlesque dancing, tribal belly dance, Car parking, fun “make and do” tents for children making cane lanterns, magicians walking through the crowds, The Canadian artist “ManWoman”
who gave a talk about his life and his insights into the reclaim the swastika movement with love peace & harmony, Amusements, merry go rounds, slides, Local musicians and foreign artists, Suspension body modification, face painting and henna, live music acoustic and rock & of course copious amounts of food, drink & laughter supplied by the great staff at Marlougue Inn and to round off proceedings a world cup final that let everybody get together and relax and catch up on the tremendous two days just gone, tattoo design and of course people having them done in front of our eyes.

Talking with Manwoman the festivals guest speaker, “We arrived over to Dublin last Thursday and were delighted by the energy and enthusiasm from the people here in Ireland, We came down to Cobh and are staying with Phil for the duration of the festival, after Phil is taking us around Ireland to show us some of the artistic and historic sights and sounds, I’m really looking forward to Newgrange.”

Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin

Photograph by Kate Mcloughlin

A very Gentle Manwoman talks openly to everyone that wishes to ask him anything, he tries out the local stout for the first time before telling me about his very first tattoo and how as an artist he is still working breaking down barriers and in his own positive way is trying to help educate people where ever he goes.

Cobh’s own husband & wife team Michael & Tania Bourke from “Truly Scrumptious Catering” were on site to feed the hungry crowds both days. “we had a great time cooking all sorts of vegetarian treats, everybody has been really happy and we’ve had a great response so…
The festivals been really great even though yesterday was really wet, great mixture of people young and old, all sorts of interesting people so its been really great.” a tired but happy Tania tells me in between serving lots of hungry revellers, updates on truly scrumptious can be found on www.trulyscrumptious.ie

Cameras were everywhere and the day was well documented by documentary makers from Cork, Dublin & RTE, as well as tattoo.tv, people arrive from home and all over the world. A chance to see traditional style in the artistry of tattoo.

But what did Cobh’s very own Phil Cummins, event organiser and promoter make of the entire two days, Saturday was a wet rainy day, did it kill off the local spirits for this the first annual International tattoo festival held in Cobh?

Phil: The festivals been good yeah, yeah a really good turn out, erm, all the families, all the kids every bodies enjoyed it, all the hardcore tattoo people are very happy with the whole thing, the sunshine came out today, you know, we’ve had a good turn out and its been a great weekend all in all,

Cobh Edition: So what was your inspiration for having the festival?

Phil: Because I live in one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and the location is amazing, its so fitting and suitable for such an event, you know I couldn’t resist the opportunity

Cobh Edition: So tell us a little about the tattooists & people here?

Phil: Ah they have come all the way from Indonesia, Denmark, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, all performing traditional forms of tattoo using different forms of tattoo, using different stick tools, ah, such as needle and thread, hawthorns, rose thorns, ancient hammer and stick techniques, even down to modern machine techniques for tattooing, really across the board tattooing its the fist time ever in the world such an event has been put together, and I’m very pleased with how it all turned out and I’m looking forward to doing it all again next year.

Cobh Edition: So what have been the highlights of the weekend for you?

Phil: (Laughing) Well Ive been so busy trying to organise everyone else’s enjoyment, erm Linda Culen today, I really enjoyed that, the effort that all the artists all the musicians and eveybody has made to come together to make the whole event happen, Ive enjoyed that most of all

Cobh Edition: So anything to say to the readers of Cobh Edition?

Phil: Its been a family fun day, you can camp for the weekend and id totally invite the people of Cobh to come along and enjoy and id encourage everyone to come along and support it next year

Cobh Edition: So how can people contact you or keep up with next years events?

Phil: Well my mobile is 086 739 7955 or my email is original.skin@hotmail.com or we will be updating the festival website over the coming months which is www.originalskin.ie/festival.

A tired Phil sits down for a well deserved drink, and after the weekend of fun for that he has just organised for the people of Cobh, I think he well deserves it.

Maurice Supple for Cobh Edition