Ómós Digest #209: A Recap of The Knife Night
Looking back on an evening of craft, collaboration and a return to the pass.
As we slowly emerge from our Christmas hibernation, we find ourselves reflecting on the year that was for Ómós. Taking stock over the festive period allowed us to reset while also rallying for what lies ahead over the next twelve months. By this time next year, we hope to be open, with our first Christmas behind us, and to have welcomed many a guest through our doors. This journey has been more than four years in the making - four years of learning, toil, testing and planning. Yet as we turn the calendar page and step into 2026, it feels as though a meaningful bridge has been crossed. What feels like another year closer has finally become the year. After all the preparation, refinement and patience, we have reached our opening year - and we couldn’t be more excited.
As our anticipation builds, there is an undeniable air of giddiness among everyone involved in the project. There is a collaborative spirit that we can’t wait to harness more of and bring into 2026. From the inception of Ómós, we have been intentional about collaborating on projects with those who share our values and ethos. With that in mind, just before Christmas, you might remember we were fortunate enough to work with Form & Fable, a seasonal shop and workshop by J. Hill’s Standard in Dublin. We naturally gravitated toward its founders Anike and Ava, drawn together by a shared ethos and kindred energy. When they invited us to take part in an event celebrating Irish knives, we immediately offered to cook - how could we say no? The result was The Knife Night which took place in early December.
For us, Form & Fable felt like a natural match. Many of the makers they were showcasing and working with are also collaborators of Ómós, while others were new to us yet equally inspiring. That’s the beauty of collaboration: you end up learning so much along the way. It also felt important to do something for the public, to step beyond our hive and cocoon in Laois. The opportunity to work in a space that celebrated Irish craft and making seemed like the perfect fit. Looking back, the event lived up to our every expectation - a gathering where skill, collaboration and creativity came to the fore, and where we could share our craft in a setting that truly honoured the makers at the heart of it all.
We arranged to meet Ava on the morning of their opening day in their temporary space just off Wilton Park in Dublin. Upon arrival, we sat down on a beautiful couch from Nordic Elements in Blackrock, surrounded by craft pieces and wares that had been so thoughtfully laid out. Gearóid from Superfolk was in the process of hanging a giant print on the back wall, depicting swallows performing murmurations. There was a calmness in the building. One that lent itself to being the ideal event space.
