The Jameson Black Barrel Craft Market takes place in the Backyard of the Bernard Shaw in Portobello on Friday 27th Sunday 29th of November in association with Bodytonic and will feature of host Irish artisans and craftspeople working a range of different fields that showcase a continually growing appreciation for the level of skill, enthusiasm and history that is imbued in the products that they create. The lineup at the market ranges from Mamukka, run by a pair of Hungarian brothers in Kinsale creating bags from upcycled parts of boats, to Garvan De Bruir who creates exception leatherwork at his Kildare studio. There will also be demonstrations from the makers themselves, live music and food and drink pairings.
Ireland’s own craft traditions never disappeared, but since the depths of the economic downturn, the Year of Craft in 2011 and Irish Design 2015, the appetite amongst the public for quality, handmade goods has grown hugely, and Jameson, whose coopers still use the same traditional double-charring process on its barrels to produce the smooth taste of Black Barrel, is proud to showcase this array of talent found amongst the makers of Ireland. We chatted to three of the craftspeople who are taking part this November.
SLATED
Based in Dalkey, Slated is a family business run by the Hammonds, who have been connected to slate craftsmanship since the 18th century. Slated’s range includes kitchenware, gardenware and bespoke pieces, all using Irish slate, often in combination with hand-cut wood or the traditional coupling of copper and slate. “I came from a background working in industrial relations, but my husband’s family have been slaters since the 18th century, all working as roofers,” explains Tara Hammond who runs Slated with her husband Ed. “He served his time within the family business, but I jumped straight in at the deep-end!”
Slated began just over five years ago when Ed had created a piece for Tara’s kitchen and her cousin Thomas Haughton, then Head Chef in the Westbury Hotel, asked if they could produce a piece of a certain shape for his restaurant. “It was then the process began, researching food safety and product development,” explains Tara. “Because we cut the slate using a traditional tool – a slater’s knife – we aren’t constrained by size and shape like other companies are. We have done pieces for Kerrygold, Kilmeaden, Neven Maguire, and The Little Milk Company for example, all because they are looking for shapes and sizes that differ and we’re able to do that.”
The slater’s knife, which originally belong to Edward’s great-great-great grandfather, and has been cutting slate for roofs in Dalkey for over a century, is central to the process of creating products at Slated. “We are utilising the traditional methods and, of course, the original 150 year old slater’s knife, so each piece from our range is meticulously handcrafted to enhance the natural elegance of the raw materials. They are contemporary utilisations of the beautiful slate stone, yet we keep a tradition alive through our techniques that we use in the production. For example, our copper and slate candle trios were designed to enhance the traditional coupling of copper and slate. The two materials compliment each other and the effect is really very striking.”
Despite starting in the depths of a recession, Slated has gone from strength to strength, featuring in trade shows both at home, like Creative Island, and abroad, like NY Now, and building up a network of stockists in Ireland, the UK, Canada and the US. “The main problem is that there aren’t enough hours in the day now!”
