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Gas Networks Ireland is bringing back its Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) Tattoo Parlour to this year's National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly, running from 15–17 September 2026. The attraction anchors a broader stand focused on gas pipeline safety and the growing role of renewable biomethane in Irish agriculture.
Visitors will be able to choose from a range of eye-catching temporary tattoos, including two exclusive designs by noted Dublin tattoo artist Ryan Kelly (aka The Pirate), founder of Heartbreak Social Club. Each design reinforces a simple message: always check for underground gas infrastructure before any excavation work.
The activation showcases the free DBYD service, which offers detailed maps, guidance and expert support to farmers, landowners and contractors planning to dig. In 2025, more than 37,000 requests were made to DBYD, a 37% increase on 2024, underlining rising awareness of safe digging practices.
Paul O'Brien, Head of Health, Safety and Quality at Gas Networks Ireland, said: "We're seeing more farmers, landowners and contractors using Dial Before You Dig to check what lies beneath their land before they begin work, which is a really positive step. Our message at the Ploughing this year is simple: make checking for underground infrastructure part of the job from the very start and the Tattoo Parlour is a fun way of bringing that message to life."
To extend the campaign's reach, media personality Samantha Maureen Heaney (Sammy TV) and comedian Mary-Claire Fitzpatrick are on board as safety ambassadors.
Beyond safety, the stand features a Biomethane Area illustrating how renewable biomethane can help Ireland meet climate goals while creating new income opportunities for farmers. A LEGO Brick installation by LEGO Brick Artist Jessica Farrell will also be on display.
Families can head to a dedicated zone with a sandpit, a digger and child-friendly tattoo designs, reinforcing the safety theme in a playful way. Visitors can also enter a treasure-hunt quiz for a chance to win prizes.
Gas Networks Ireland will be at Stand 153, Row 8, Block 4 throughout the three days of the Ploughing, welcoming farmers, contractors and families to learn about gas pipeline safety, renewable energy and the future of the gas network. Further details are available at www.gasnetworks.ie/ploughing.
