I know… why are you reading a post about my second tattoo? Sure the first one is a cool story. The first of anything is always super memorable and a great story. My first tattoo was just that! One of my friends gave me and my roommates stick and poke four leaf clovers while I was studying abroad in Ireland. My family ate that story up! And of course everyone could not believe that I got a tattoo.
While this one may not be as great of a story, I think it should be talked about just the same because it is tied to that first tattoo. In November, about 4 years after I had studied abroad, I had returned to see my one last friend that was still living in Galway. Her graduation was that fall, but I wasn’t going to make it early enough for it so I decided to come for a week later in the season to celebrate with her. It wasn’t my heroic return to Galway (that was the year before). Instead it was just a week to see my friend and spend a bit of time in my favorite place. It was supposed to be pretty chill. Well let me just tell you, it was not! Between getting a huge confidence boost from the Irish lads on Hinge and my very spontaneous tattoo, it was a trip to remember.
This was in fact a spontaneous decision. I blame my mom for it because first of all, she sent me the TikTok of a cute “Grá” tattoo. This is the Irish word for love and I loved it. I had been wanting to get another tattoo, but just couldn’t commit to anything. Then she also venmoed me $100 for my time in Galway. She claims it was for the Aran Sweater I had wanted to buy myself, but if I had spent my own money on the sweater, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the tattoo which was about 80 euros. She doesn’t like me framing it this way, but it is the truth! She is the reason I got this tattoo!
So I mentioned it to my friend Honoria and then I sent a dm to a tattoo place in the Westend that had some pretty celtic inspired work. I was just curious if it would even be possible and how much it would cost! Before I knew it I had an appointment that Wednesday, which was basically in two days. Two days it was for me to figure out if I was serious or not. I actually was starting to get nervous. I couldn’t figure out if it was my gut telling me not to do it or if it was because I have never been in a tattoo shop before and it kind of scared me. I went back and forth for those two days. I was actually starting to think I shouldn’t because it was too spontaneous and I was just going to regret it later. Even the morning of I couldn’t decide how I felt.
When I got to the tattoo shop though, I felt an instant relief. It was very me from all the designs on display and crafts for sale. The staff was very friendly and the guy who was going to do my tattoo was very open to my rigid requirements of the tattoo. I changed the design a bit because I didn’t like the GRà where the “a” is the only lowercase letter so I had him change that. I also wanted it small. I did not want a big tattoo on the back of my arm.
Then the time came and I laid down on the table and got my tattoo. It took a bit longer than I thought it would and I was a bit uncomfortable in the end. It definitely hurt a bit more than my last tattoo, but even so it wasn’t that painful. I also was freezing because my body just stayed at a cold temp this entire trip since it was no longer used to the damp cold of Ireland, so I had to wear my friends gloves while I got my tattoo. It looked really silly, but honestly I don’t care.
Then when I finished up, paid, and was about to leave, Honoria finally decided she also wanted the tattoo. We talked about it and how cute it would be to have another matching tattoo from 4 years after the first, but she wasn’t so sure about the cost. But she did it anyway and while they were shocked about the spontaneous request, they were totally open to it and luckily had the time for it, so we went right back in and Honoria got the same tattoo.
We tried to get a bunch of pictures, but it was in a weird spot to get a good picture. I immediately sent it to my mom. I was a bit nervous to tell my dad because he is not a fan of tattoos and was a little weird about my first one, but I think he got used to the idea so when he found out it was just an “of course” moment instead of “oh my gosh what is she doing to herself” moment. Honoria was a bit nervous as well, but to tell her mom. I still don’t think she knows, but oh well, thats kind of the fun of it! It is our thing!
Do I regret the tattoo? I don’t think I love it as much as my first one and there are some days I think “Why did I do that?” but I don’t regret it. Do I wish it was a bit lower on my arm? Yes, but apparently that’s as low as it can go or it would start to get pulled by the elbow. I think I like it for what it represents. I have gotten over it not being perfect because think of every scar and mark on your body. Its not perfect either. You don’t decide where it goes. It just becomes a part of you and your story. That is what this tattoo is for me. It doesn’t represent perfection. It represents one of the most amazing, genuine, and fulfilling friendships I’ve ever had. Imagine meeting a few years ago in a foreign country and getting a tattoo together while fully knowing that you may not still be in touch in a few years, but then actually staying in touch and getting another together. I think that’s pretty special.
It doesn’t just represent my great friendship though. It represents my love for this country that my last tattoo didn’t quite capture. That one was about remembering my semester abroad in Ireland and the great friends I made. This one is about returning to my one true love time and time again, Ireland. One of the days when I was debating it, Honoria and I were walking through Athenry and I told her, “I think it just makes sense because I’ve been feeling like I am not sure if I will ever love anything as much as I love Ireland.” She laughed at me and put it in her quote book. But really, it is something I feel in my bones. You know that earth shattering love that you read about in books? Well that is what I have with Ireland. It is my greatest love that I don’t think anything or anyone can compete with. So that is what this tattoo means to me. Grá is Irish for love. This is my grá.
If you want to read more about my love for Ireland, check out my Ireland page! I promise it won’t disappoint. I will also be returning once again in a few weeks so keep a look out for some of my new adventures.
The Journal of Wanderlust 