Issue 44 out now! Last of the semester!

The last issue of Griffiti for the 2010/2011 college year is out today. As always, pick up your copy around Griffith College campus and check out the online version HERE. This issue has, quite frankly, the best Griffiti cover yet, with a wrap-around shot of the end of the year BBQ. Everyone at Griffiti HQ would like to say thanks for a great year and thanks to everyone that contributed to the magazine. Have a great summer!

Traces of the Real exhibition now open

The Traces of the Real photography exhibition opened last Thursday at the Fumbally Exchange, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8. The exhibition displays the work of Hugh McCabe and song exposure photography.

"A song exposure photograph is a photograph of the performance of a song, and is created by opening the shutter at the start of the song, and then closing it at the end. The resulting images capture the stages and equipment in vivid detail but cast the performers and audiences as fluid, transient and ghostlike presences in front of the lens."

The Exhibition is on until April 21st, and is open 11am to 5pm everyday.

Make sure to go along and check it out and also keep an eye out for the next issue of Griffiti which will include a full recap of the exhibition and an interview with Hugh McCabe.

Ireland's tattoo industry today

Take a walk around Dublin’s city centre and you’ll find it difficult not to pass a tattoo studio. In recent years, the popularity of tattoos has grown immensely and I thought it was time to find out how well the tattoo industry is being received in today’s society.

I headed to The Dublin International Tattoo Convention in the D4 hotel, Ballsbridge, last November where hundreds of artists from all over the world were there to show off their skills. I spoke to customers and tattoo artists to get the latest on the tattoo world and why more and more people are getting inked.

I first got talking to Sasha Delaney, a teacher from Clondalkin, while she was getting tattooed at the convention.

To begin with, why did you decide to get a tattoo?
I was 26 before I even got my first tattoo. I wanted to wait to make sure it was the right one. I think that they can look really nice when they are done well. I’m really into my piercings as well. Once you run out of places to pierce you start tattooing yourself!

What were your considerations before getting your first tattoo?
I work in a secondary school so it had to be somewhere that when I wanted to show it off I could but that it could be very easily covered also. I don’t think I would go below my knees or above my shoulders, apart from my foot, especially because I’m working in a convent. Nuns don’t like tattoos, or piercings for that matter!


What else do you consider before getting a tattoo?
Well obviously who is doing it is a big deal. I would never go to anyone whose work I hadn’t seen or who hadn’t been recommended in some way. It’s nice to see the studio because you can kind of get an inkling as to what they are like.

Do you worry about how your skin will mature with tattoos?
The one on my back I’m not too worried about because it’s on a piece of skin that’s probably not going to sag too much and no one can see my thigh so I’m not too bad.

Have you got any plans to get any more tattoos after this?
Well I want my side piece done next. I think I’ll wait a while because I think it is going to be big so it will have to be done in two or three sessions.

In your opinion, how are tattoos viewed in society nowadays?
I don’t think it’s a big deal anymore, I remember when I was younger and if someone had a tattoo it was ‘oh my God, shock horror!’ Most people have tattoos now. The only difference is that there are a lot of people walking around with really bad tattoos. There are a lot of girls going around with what I call fashionable tattoos. In ten years time they’ll look at them and think to themselves ‘oh dear God what did I do that for?’ They all seem to be the same. I just think that sometimes people need to think about what they are actually getting and to do it for themselves and not because everyone else is doing it.


Rachel Byrne was left with a less than positive experience after last year’s tattoo convention. I spoke to Rachel as she was getting a large tattoo on her back repaired and covered up.

Were you happy with your tattoo when you first got it done?
The first design I got I was happy with when the artist drew it out, but then he went along and did his own thing. Each session it was further from what I wanted. So I waited a year so I could find the best of the best, by looking at all their portfolios online.

When it was first done, did you say to the tattoo artist that you were not happy?
Yeah, but he just kept saying ‘It’s going to be perfect, it’s going to be amazing, trust me!’

Would you consider getting more tattoos after this?
Yeah, it is addictive so I do try to keep the craving logical. If you give into the craving you’ll end up with them all over your body. My back and side are fine because I can cover them up if I want to.

How do you think society views tattoos, is there still a stigma attached to them?
I think it’s going away slowly, because unfortunately it’s becoming a fashion item at the moment. A lot of people are getting them. Years ago it was the hellraisers and the trouble makers that used to get tattoos but nowadays every young one on the street has a tattoo.


Despite the recession, tattoo studios are still doing steady business. I met Ken O’Donnell who has recently taken over the running of Red Dragon Tattoo and Piercing Studio in Clondalkin and found out how he thought the industry is coping in this harsh economic climate.

How is the business going for you so far?
We have steady business. We could be busier but like any business it takes time to build up. The customers we have are loyal, they keep coming back and we are proving we can beat the bigger studios, both on quality and on standards.

What makes Red Dragon different from any other tattoo studio?
From the studio point of view we are very relaxed. It’s more like a family than a business. There are no egos. Everybody has a place. Everybody does whatever needs doing to make the business work. There’s no such thing as being the artist, or being the apprentice or being the boss, we just do whatever it takes. The customers pick up on this so they feel comfortable. We are turning out good quality work in a nice friendly environment and they seem to like it and they come back to us.

Have you ever felt frustrated with having to hide your tattoos?
I’ve never felt frustrated; I understand that it’s a generational thing. For a lot of people, they still carry the stigma that there’s something rough, tough, and almost second-class citizen about having tattoos. There are so many people that I know, business owners, undertakers, solicitors and doctors who all have tattoos. Because of the nature of their work they are forced to keep them covered and not have them on show. It would be lovely if we were eventually fully accepted into society. We will someday, because as I’ve said it’s generational. Someday we will actually get to a point where they will be allowed, they will be accepted and it will be normal.

Is there anywhere you won’t get tattooed?
I won’t get tattooed from the neck up and I won’t get tattooed from the wrist down. I can still cover my tattoos when society wants me to cover them. I still see it if I go away or if I stay at hotels. I still get the second looks. I’ve had people complain on planes and say that I must be sitting in the wrong place because I’m sitting in first class and I’m tattooed, so how could I afford it? I have had a guest at a hotel leisure centre ask me to cover up because his wife found my tattoos offensive. My response was ‘I actually find your beer belly hanging over your shorts offensive. I haven’t told you to cover up, please don’t tell me to’.

Is there anything in the tattoo industry that you don’t like?
I don’t like bad artwork. I don’t like the people who have watched the television programme, they’ve bought a DVD, they’ve gotten the kit from ebay and all of a sudden they call themselves a tattoo artist. It ruins the industry and ruins the business. Choosing to get tattooed by a poor artist is peoples’ own choice and something that we can hopefully educate people about.

So what does it take to become a proper tattoo artist?
It takes a lot of skill, hard work and dedication. You’ve got to know how to draw and be a very good artist with a pen. You’ve also got to have a very good teacher. Also, you’ve got to have an unlimited amount of patience because you don’t learn it overnight. It takes time and patience. You’ve really got to want to do it. For the majority of artists, it’s not a business you’ll get rich in. There are a handful of people in the world that have become rich from tattooing. The rest make a nine-to-five wage.

What’s your view on TV shows such as LA Ink and Miami Ink?
They have done a lot of good for the industry. Yet hey have also given a false perception. There are the initial stages, the stencilling, the getting ready and the person sitting there for four, five or six hours it may take while they get tattooed. Unfortunately in a one hour programme, you see six or seven tattoos being done. Yes it gives a false image, but it has made it popular, and anything that makes it popular and hopefully more socially acceptable is great. I mean, it’s great that here we are in one of Dublin’s most prestigious hotels at a tattoo convention.

It seems that tattoos will still evoke a range of reactions - from interest, admiration and astonishment to disgust and fear. Peoples’ reasons for getting tattooed haven’t really changed. Some get them to acknowledge loved ones, some as a tribal or traditional experience, some to provoke a reaction and some just because they can be beautiful works of art. There are still many who do not like tattoos, but today there are more professional tattooists around who take immense pride in their work. The public is better informed now, more than ever and know to look for quality and advice before taking that major leap into permanent body art.

Gill Pringle

New issue of Griffiti out now!

The new issue (No. 43) of Griffiti is out now! Pick up your copy around campus or online HERE. This issue includes an interesting look at the conflict in Libya, a lighthearted look at the man's world (of Warcraft) as well as the usual SU news and entertainment.

Conflict in Libya

Griffith student Abdullah Neihum recently returned from Libya, where with the organisation Libyan Emergency Aid he and fellow student Neil Darcy set up, delivered much needed aid to the stricken country. In the latest issue of Griffiti, Jonathan Keane speaks with Abdullah about the journey over there and what is next for him and Libyan Emergency Aid. Prior to his departure, Abdullah also spoke with student Peter McKeever before leaving for Libya.

So tell us Abdullah what’s the story, what are you going over to Libya for?

Abdullah: It’s part of an aid convoy we’ve set up over the last two weeks, Libyan Emergency Aid we’ve called it. It’s part of the LSSA (the Libyan Social Solidarity Association) which is a registered charity, to send over aid and to collect donations of aid from hospitals around the country and maybe even buy pharmaceuticals at cost value and send them over to Libyan hospitals through Egypt from the east. So far it’s been really good we were able to send over a good few containers. I’m actually going over there myself in a couple of hours to meet the containers once they reach Cairo.

And how did you put it together?

Abdullah: I was in Griffith College and I got in touch with Ann Daly – one of the lecturers here – and she passed on a number to Neil Darcy, who basically met up with me and we started plotting out how we were going to do it, what we’re going to do with the haulage, what hospitals are available for us or what hospitals are going to be giving donations to us. Between myself and himself within about four days we were able to send a forty foot and a twenty foot container really, really quickly and really efficiently so that was good.

What are you expecting to find when you get to Libya?

Abdullah: Well we’re going through Egypt first so once we get to the border we’ll assess. I mean it’s going to be another two days before we’re going to come up to the border. Hopefully on the way we’re going to be interviewing people involved with aid convoys already there, and once we reach the border we’ll assess if it’s safe enough to go in. We’ll go in with the convoy all the way to Benghazi and hopefully interview actually members of the new government, that’s the sort of mission at the moment. We know that the aid is already going in there we just want to interview the people involved and the new government if we can get in touch with them.

We hear you have family in Benghazi have you heard anything from them?Abdullah: Yeah my grandmother is in her seventies and is on Skype to us most of the time. She’s a little worried you know, she’s homebound, but Benghazi is nowhere near as bad as what’s going on in the west, which is going to be our next sort of point of interest ‘cause there’s already enough aid going to the east. A lot of people are doing okay, well you know relatively, compared to what’s going on in the west. In the east it’s going fine you know they’ve already formed the new government and it’s been recognised by a number of major countries around the world. It’s just a matter of sort of spreading that sort of control across to the west as well.

Do you think the US, the UK, and France have reacted in time to this?Abdullah: I think they reacted very . . . calculatingly. When the Americans didn’t do or say anything for a week everybody was going “why weren’t they doing or saying anything?” It felt like they didn’t really care, just sort of hid away from the situation. What was going on was they were actually taking Americans out of Libya before making any announcements in fear of any Americans being held hostage by Gaddafi. So that was the case and there was a certain level of, you know, things that they have to get right first. There is a good reaction from the Americans at the moment.

How bad is the humanitarian situation over there?Abdullah: People are getting picked off in the street. Snipers are just shooting randomly in the west and they’re getting civilians who are protesting. [Civilians] are being shelled by tanks walking in the streets. I was talking to a Libyan businessman about twenty minutes ago and he was saying that the situation in Az-Zawiyah, the town outside of Tripoli, is actually a war zone. Try and imagine that civilians in the city, a city that’s in a war zone itself. There’s Libyans shooting Libyans and mercenaries. It’s Gaddafi killing his own people.

What was Libya like under Gaddafi?
Abdullah: Not too unlike this. This is the kind of tyranny Libyans are used to. This has been going on for forty years, it’s just now this is at a peak where it’s just a massacre. But there is a sense of fear. Libyans have just been quiet for so many years. People who opposed him (Gaddafi) just disappeared, or were even publicly hung. When he first took over, people were in fear the whole time but now I think the only difference is that Libyans are going out there and they’re not afraid anymore, you know. They go out there with their lives at risk and they know that there’s a very good chance that they would die but they’re actually going out to do it. Whereas before there was very quiet acceptance of the oppression in Libya it’s just gotten to the stage now where, because of what happened in Tunisia and what happened in Egypt, I think it sort of built up.

Are you nervous going over? Is the adrenaline taking over?
Abdullah: Nervous. Two days ago, definitely nervous, I think you kind of accept it. We’ve been in touch with quiet trustworthy people who are totally in control who are going back and forth between Egypt and Libya that we know. We know that were in good hands going back and forth.

How does your family feel about you going over? Are they nervous to see you leave?
Abdullah: Yeah I suppose. My mother is a very driven person; she’s an activist as well. She’s a doctor over in the Lourdes and she’s the one who, along with myself and Neil Darcy, worked together to make sure that we could get this aid. It was her contacts mainly that I led from for the donations to happen. She’s worried but if you’re a Libyan and your watching this happen and you have an opportunity to do something and you don’t, then you’re at fault. So I’m sitting here and I know I’ve so many opportunities to do something right and help people out, I have to take it.

When – hopefully – Gaddafi is ousted from power what kind of Middle East would you like to see in the future?
Abdullah: There are a few obstacles I think. There’s a wide range of interests, you know, particularly in the Arab world. There are liberals like myself and my family, but there are also religious conservatives. They’re a personal concern for me, like most people would be accepting the Muslim Brotherhood have done some great things for us. They’re not a danger as such but they are extremely conservative. I wouldn’t see eye to eye with that type of Islam, but again, they have done huge amounts of work for the Arab world and that’s why they have been a threat to the likes of Gaddafi, Mubarak, and Ben Ali. They’re held in such high regard by Muslim people, but there has to be a middle ground. You can’t just have this Islamic sort of take over. The idea would be to have a democracy that we can think and vote for what we want to vote for and do what we want to do.

How do you feel the media have handled the situation?
Abdullah: I was more informed in the first week because I had Twitter; I had feeds straight from Arab countries. The media was very slow and – I was saying this to a friend yesterday – mainly because Libya was in a state of blackout that you couldn’t confirm any stories and obviously the media has to asses things before they can actually report it. So there’s a lot of things coming out that could’ve been rumours that had to be assessed so it took two or three days to confirm things such as death tolls, you know, you never knew what was true or not until a couple of days later.

You can the read the accompaniment interview in the new issue of Griffiti.

Griffiti is nominated for a Smedia

Griffiti has made the final nominations for Small College Publication of the Year in the 2011 Smedias. Thank you to all who have contributed in some way to the magazine or even if you just picked up a copy to read.

Check out the category HERE.

Attention media students! Smedias

Have you entered this year's Smedias? If so, get in contact with us ASAP! We want to profile your submissions in the next issue of Griffiti. griffiti@gcd.ie

New issue of Griffiti out now! Issue 42

The new issue of Griffiti, the first of 2011, is out now! As usual you can pick up a copy around campus or view it online HERE. This issue comes with the round-up of SU news, SHAG week coverage and the usual features including a look at homelessness in Dublin, an interesting take on the "reality" TV show Fade Street and this issue's In Focus shines a light on the work of the design faculty.

Off The Rails filming this Friday - Be part of it!

This coming Friday (March 4th), Off The Rails will be filming on the streets of Dublin, for their new segment; Street Style Icon. Off The Rails presenters Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney will be scanning the streets for Dublin’s fashionistas. Five guys and/or girls will be chosen for a live filming show in Dublin on March 11th where a winner will be crowned and receive a prize.

If you are interested, email a picture of yourself and some details to Avrill.reilly@rte.ie with the subject: Street Style Icon

Make yourself standout!

For tickets to the show: offtherails@rte.ie

Actimel Full Of Life competition

Third year photography student Shane Cunnane has entered his photograph The Absence Of Gravity into the Actimel Full of Life winter photograph competition. You can view the photo below and visit HERE to vote.




“The photo was taken at Urlaur Lake & Abbey in Urlaur, Co. Mayo; it's one of six images I submitted for an Action Photography project last semester”, says Shane.

“In order to achieve the acquired aesthetic, I asked my model to jump on the spot and twist in mid-air, before landing on her feet again. It was during this mid-air twist that I captured The Absence Of Gravity. The aperture was f4 and the shutter speed was 1/4000 of a second. I think it's a great contender for the most Full Of Life Winter Moment on the Actimel Full Of Life website.”

Voting remains open until February 27th and only takes a second.

If you are a Griffith student and have also entered the Actimel Full Of Life competition, please contact griffiti@gcd.ie

Register to vote!

The general election will soon be upon us and it’s vital that you’re registered to vote. Luckily for those of you who aren’t, Griffith SU will have members of An Garda Síochána in Arthur’s Bar with a stall on Wednesday February 2nd at noon so you can register for what is likely to be the most unparalleled general election in the history of the country. All you need to bring is a government ID such a drivers licence, passport or Garda ID as well as proof of your address. The Gardaí on hand will provide the relevant forms and take care of the rest.

If you have any queries contact the SU at su@gcd.ie

Facebook event page

New semester, Griff FM and the Smedias loom!

Everyone here at Griffiti towers are plugging away at the next issue of the magazine, coming out in February and we all hope those dreaded exams went well for you, but they’re in the past now. What’s next is a new semester with plenty happening.

Firstly, Griff FM is returning to the airwaves tomorrow (Monday January 31st). At the start of every second semester the second year journalism students are handed over the reins of the radio studio. Tomorrow evening there will be an official launch party in Arthur’s bar on campus at 7pm with Mr. Justice Frank Clark so come on down and make sure to check out Griff FM on 92.1FM or on streams.gcd.ie

Also, the Student Media award (Smedias) organised by those good folk over at oxygen.ie is taking place on April 6th at the Mansion House. Pre-registration for your publications, radio shows, blogs… whatever, has opened and Griffiti will be registered for Editor of the Year (newspaper or magazine), Layout and Design of the Year, Magazine or the Year, Small College Publication of the Year awards. Wish us luck!

Visit HERE for Smedias pre-registration.

Finally, if you have any submissions for Griffiti please do get in touch – griffiti@gcd.ie

IFI presents Jim Sheridan: In Focus

The Irish Film Institute (IFI) is to host special screenings of acclaimed Irish director Jim Sheridan’s finest films, in celebration of his illustrious career. Sheridan himself will be present at the screenings as well as special guests such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Hugh O'Connor, Brenda Fricker, Peter Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan.

“Jim Sheridan's exceptional body of work has not only been recognised domestically but has proven itself on the international stage many times. He has become a key figure in shaping the world's perception of Ireland and its diaspora. We are thrilled and honoured to be working so closely with him and so many of his collaborators in presenting this season focusing on the highlights of his career”, commented IFI Director Sarah Glennie after the announcement of the season.

Jim Sheridan, along with actors appearing at the season, will all be giving talks on the various films on show, discussing their experiences filming and what the film means to them now. Check out the schedule of screenings below and visit IFI’s website for details on ticket bookings.

Opening Film: My Left Foot (1989) Feb 3rd 18.00
The season will be launched by Daniel Day-Lewis at this gala with guests Brenda Fricker, Hugh O'Connor and Jim Sheridan

Mobile Homes (directed by Pat O'Connor 1979) Feb 5th 15.00
This screening will be introduced by Peter Sheridan.

Jim Sheridan Interview. Feb 5th 4.30
A public conversation between Jim and Peter Sheridan.

The Field (1990) Feb 7th 18.15
This screening will include a talk with guests Jim Sheridan, Luke Gibbbons and Brenda Fricker.

In The Name of the Father (1993) Feb 8th 18.00
This screening is dedicated to the memory of Pete Postlethwaite.

Some Mother's Son (directed by Terry George, 1996) Feb 9th 18.40

The Boxer (1997) Feb 10th 18.40

In America (2002) Feb 12th 16.00
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with Jim Sheridan and co-author of the film's screenplay, Kirsten Sheridan.

Bloody Sunday (directed by Paul Greengrass, 2002) Feb 13th 14.00

Brothers (2009) Feb 21st 19.00