People sporting tattoos often get a hard time but sometimes there can be an amazing story behind this body art. Mayo swim coach Trevor Devlin has recently had some fresh artwork added to his growing tattoo collection. This latest addition is especially symbolic as not only is it high quality Japanese art but it also represents the story of Devlin’s recent brush with cancer.
So why a tattoo in the first place?
“I got my first done when I was 18 years old and the truth be told, it was out of skullduggery,” he recalled. “I remember my mother was really upset but I didn’t regret it at all — not until years later at least.”
The initial tattoo carved high up on his left arm was ‘the all-seeing eye’, which Devlin explains is a symbol of the third eye (our sixth sense ) in Tunisia. “My mother kept telling me I should have waited until something significant happened in my life to get a tattoo, and in hindsight I knew she was right because a tattoo is very symbolic. At the same time my mum has come round completely and even returned recently from a holiday abroad with her own butterfly tattoo!”
Once you get your first tattoo the process becomes hugely addictive, admits Devlin, who cannot say for sure when he will have his last. “I got my second tattoo three months after the first one and I’ve been adding new ones ever since. It’s about telling my life story and the significant moments in it.”
Addictive as it may be, having a needle stuck in your flesh does hurt and Devlin is no stranger to pain. “We all know how low a pain threshold men have and getting work done on the inside of my arm was something else. The nearer to the bone it is the more painful!”
To date, only his upper body has been exposed to the needle and in the meantime, Devlin has developed a love for Japanese art.
“I have a Celtic band on my left arm to symbolise timelessness so I won’t have a sell-by date!”
After being diagnosed with non-Hodgins lymphoma Devlin underwent three years of heavy medical treatment.
“That was a very significant part of my life I wanted to mark so I have the date of diagnosis, the date the battle began, and a Samurai warrior symbol of strength for having survived. Since then I have also had one with my son Jacob’s name written in Japanese and also one for myself and my wife Maritta.”
Despite the fact some may think all he needs is a good wash, Devlin has no intention of calling a halt to his body art. “It will probably end when I run out of skin,’ he declares.
Devlin has his artwork done by talented Ballina artist turned tattoo artist Ed Barton at his Legend Tattoo Studio on O’Raghaillaigh Street. He recommends anyone considering having a tattoo talk it through with family and friends to avoid making any hasty decision that might come to haunt them later in life.
