On George’s Quay, a new tattoo shop will not be chasing trends or going viral
Joel Rhys loves Cork.
Originally from London, the roving tattoo artist was always on the lookout for the perfect location to set down roots and open his own shop.
When he arrived on Leeside after a decade of globetrotting, he’d found it.
Now open at 17 George’s Quay, and creating quite the buzz among tattooed folk about town, Atlantic Tattoo is a wish fulfilled:
“I was always attracted to the idea of living in Ireland due to my family being from here and infrequent visits over the years, only to learn that Ireland, and Cork specifically, are nothing like how anyone imagines them,” he told Yay Cork.
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“After more than a decade of tattooing all over the world, I’m often surprising locals when I tell them that Cork beats out every city I’ve lived and tattooed in on nearly every measure.”
‘More than a job’
Location pinned down, when the time was right, Rhys assembled a team of like-minded tattooers specialising in the pillars of classic and contemporary tattooing; European/American traditional, Japanese, tribal, fine line, and lettering.
The Atlantic team includes Cormac McNealy and Bruno Rodrigues, with guest artists making regular visits.
“Opening a tattoo shop was always on the cards for me but I only wanted it to be something I did for the right reasons,” says Rhys.
“It’s technically easy to open one, that’s why you see so many amateurs and outsiders doing it, but I’ve always believed tattooing was something more than a job and I hate seeing it treated as simply just a business.
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“Anyone who’s ever been into a proper tattoo shop knows what I’m talking about, this is Tattooing with a capital T, it’s a craft and a subculture that’s a lot smaller than the corporate branded industry that has grown up around it.
“We like our pocket of tattooing, there’s a history and lineage to it that we obsess over. We’re less interested in following trends going viral or landing sponsorships. We’re solely focused on tattooing.”
‘Show me an idea’
If you can’t find something for you from the thousands of hand-painted motifs on the shop walls, Atlantic Tattoo is your best bet for a custom piece.
“We care about how our tattoos look in the skin in the real world more so than how they’re performing online with likes and shares… this is something that’s influenced modern tattooing more than anything else, but it needn’t be that way,” says Rhys.
“Show me an idea you saw online and I’ll show you ten better ones no one has seen before from our library of books we have out back.”
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It’s been a big month. The team kicked off July by debuting Atlantic Tattoo at The Bristol Tattoo Convention (“one of the best tattoo conventions there is”) and launching the shop with a party on George’s Quay.
Both events are career highlights for Joel Rhys: “And we’ve only just started!” he smiles.
“We already have a list of some of the world’s best tattooers heading to Cork to work with us as guest artists,
“I’m bursting to announce some of them.”
Call Atlantic Tattoo on 021 242 7037 to make an appointment. They also have some rather nice merch so pick up a tee while you’re in.
Main image: Sign and image by Dami Designs
