Chloe MooreEimear O’Reilly is a Dublin-based creative whose work spans tattoo artistry, podcasting, and cultural advocacy.
As the host of Outside In, she openly shares her personal experiences with OCD, PMDD, and the challenges of navigating life in her mid-20s, aiming to foster comfort and connection among her listeners.
Beyond her podcast, Eimear is a passionate Irish language speaker and has collaborated on events like tattoo-inspired pottery painting sessions, blending traditional art forms with contemporary expression. Her multifaceted approach to creativity and wellness has made her a relatable figure for many seeking authenticity and community in today’s cultural landscape.
I had the chance to talk to Eimear about her creative projects and experiences.
What inspired you to pursue a career in tattoo artistry, and how has your style evolved over time?
I got my first handpoke from Charlotte, known as “sticks not stones”, and I found myself completely in awe of the skill. Handpoke was so niche in Dublin at the time, which inspired me to give it a go. I fell in love with the look of handpoke tattoos. It was the only thing I’ve ever stuck to like ever. I didn’t know what I was in for or what I was doing at the time, but I grew such a love for the art and skill of tattooing, which pushed me to keep going even if I was a bit bad, some may say I still am. My style may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But I think my style is unique and easy to spot. I think it’s even cooler that my most popular tattoo is my handwriting, and mostly in Irish too! It’s unique anyway and has continued to be over the years.
How do you integrate your Irish heritage into your tattoo designs?
My grandad’s first language was Irish, so from a very young age, the Irish language has always been a huge part of my life. One day (about 6 years ago), I decided to do a flash sheet with the words “grá mór” written on it, a saying my grandad used to call me, and it quickly became one of the most popular things I tattooed! I started to integrate more Irish words into my work, and tattooing in Irish has become my favourite thing to do. I’ve had people come from all over Ireland to get the Irish words tattooed in my handwriting, which means the world to me. It’s great to see in recent years Irish tattoos, hoodies, T-shirts, etc becoming popular amongst young people, it’s keeping the language alive, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.
What motivated you to start your podcast, and what themes do you aim to explore through it?
Podcasting is like a form of therapy for me, and I have grown such a passion for it. When my last podcast I was a part of ended, I was heartbroken, which motivated me to start “Outside In”. It’s basically like reading my journal if I had one, an insight into my life and my brain. Themes are usually based on my mood or what’s interesting to me at that moment in time. I love the freedom I have with my podcast and still find it crazy that people actually like listening to my thoughts and opinions on things.
How do you select topics and guests for your episodes?
The topics are random, but I would like to say it’s a mental health podcast of some sort, there’s happy tears and a lot of sad tears too. It’s lighthearted mostly, and I have explored topics that I wouldn’t be too educated on; that’s where my guests come in. Every single guest I’ve had on, I’ll have a personal interest or connection with them/what they do or what they stand for! To be honest, a lot of my guests are friends or acquaintances in which I’m really lucky. I have plans to step out of my comfort zone soon with my podcast, but I still want to keep it as relatable as possible. I have no interest in basing my guests on numbers or viewers, more so on my interest and what draws me to them. That’s how I manage to have real conversations with people that people seem to really enjoy.
Can you discuss any memorable moments or feedback you’ve received from your podcast audience?
Every single bit of feedback is memorable for me; my heart explodes every time someone contacts me, and especially when I’m approached in person. My podcast is my baby. I really once again, didn’t have a clue what I was doing when I first started my own podcast, so anyone telling me that they love it is the best feeling in the world. It’s really special to me that younger age groups listen, like 16-18. I didn’t really have anyone to listen to growing up, and those years are particularly difficult, so I think it’s really cool to be that person for someone growing up or to be part of their teenage years.
You’ve spoken openly about living with OCD and PMDD. How has sharing your experiences impacted you and your listeners?
Struggling with any mental health disorder can feel extremely isolating and lonely. I thought my experiences with both PMDD and OCD were niche until I spoke about them on my podcast. The more I spoke about it, the less alone I felt. It’s such a large spectrum, and being neurodivergent, your symptoms can constantly overlap with other disorders, so it’s been incredible the comfort people have found in listening to my struggles because somewhere along the line, it resonates with them and what they are dealing with. It’s only pushed me more out of my comfort zone, and I’m probably the most honest ever on my podcast about how I’m feeling, as I’ve said before, it’s like a therapy session for me, so sharing is helping both me and the listener and it’s an amazing feeling.
What strategies have you found helpful in managing your mental health, and how do you incorporate them into your daily life?
Honestly, as cliche as it sounds, working out and keeping on top of my mental health, as well as my physical health, go hand in hand! I used to constantly want to fix my mental health, and it’s a tough pill to swallow when you realise it’s something that’ll never be “fixed”. It’s more about managing. I do think therapy is a healthy way to start, but everyone’s different and has different ways of coping. Honestly, socialising and dancing have a huge part in what helps me cope with my mental health. There’s no better feeling than a day or night after an incredible dance; moving your body to music does wonders for your mind. It keeps me sane. When festival season arrives, I’m the happiest girl in the world.
What advice would you offer to others navigating similar challenges?
Some of the best advice I’ve gotten is that comparison is the thief of joy. I used to let the anxiety of not being good enough paralyse me, and I sometimes still do! Who said I wasn’t good enough? Nobody! I’m just comparing myself and my achievements to other people, which, of course, will be different. If you struggle mentally, comparing yourself to other people, whether it’s other businesses, other tattoo artists, other podcasts or just other people who maybe don’t struggle with what I struggle with, is exhausting. So much of my time and energy has gone into wishing I was something other than myself over the years, only in the last year or so have I found beauty in the way I think and how my brain works and I wouldn’t change it for the world but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Stop comparing yourself to other people, creatively or just personally. Try to invest that time and energy into something productive instead.
Do you think Ireland’s current nightlife laws and licensing restrictions impact artists or marginalised communities trying to find space and visibility?
Absolutely! Dublin is oozing with creativity and creative people, but there’s no outlet for us; we are being pushed out of our city. This goes for every creative profession, there really is nowhere to go. Dublin’s current nightlife laws are anything but freeing and expressive. There is such potential in this city, but it feels like we are all in chains.
Have nightlife spaces ever played a part in your personal or creative life, whether as inspiration, escape, or connection?
Nightlife spaces have played a huge part in my personal and creative life, absolutely, all the time! The connection that is built through nightlife spaces is so important. It’s also an escape after a busy day in my creative life. Dancing to good music on a weekend after a busy day of tattooing is my idea of winding down or escaping. Sometimes I intertwine work and nightlife, for example, the pottery nights I’ve hosted with Pottery Dublin, and it’s a dream!
How do you stay inspired and continue to grow in your creative endeavours?
Being able to do what I love nearly everyday keeps me inspired to be honest, it’s very rare to be able to go into work feeling shite and leave feeling fulfilled and revived and I know I’m extremely lucky to have that. Social media has become jam-packed with new trends and can be super overwhelming when being a creative, but focusing on the simplest of things right now, it helps me stay on the right path and right headspace for inspiration and growth. Sticking to my gut and taking things at my own pace, too! There’s no rush either. Growth takes time, and there are always ups and downs in between. I have fire in my belly always, but honestly, the inspiration comes from the burning passion I have for my job.
What are your aspirations for the next few years, both personally and professionally?
I guess I aspire to continue doing what I’m doing now, hopefully expand my podcast to a wider audience and continue to promote mental health awareness, particularly topics like OCD and PMDD. I hope to be tattooing for the next 50 years and that my business continues to succeed through thick and thin. That’s the goal for sure.
