The former rugby player talks about his passion for knife-making, while top bladesmiths around the country explain how interest in their craft is growing, with more and more people attending workshops
Former Irish international rugby player and knife-maker Cian Healy. Photo: Steve Humphreys
For former Ireland rugby international Cian Healy, knife-making has long been more than a hobby – it’s a creative counterbalance to the pressures of professional sport. While sport dominated his life for years, the process of grinding steel and shaping blades has always been there in the background, offering him a way to switch off, focus and recharge.
“There’s a really highly regarded knife-maker named Fingal Ferguson in west Cork, and many years ago, my wife got me one of his kitchen knives as a gift,” says Healy. “I went down to collect it and ended up in a long conversation with him. I saw his workshop and realised you didn’t need really heavy machinery to do this. He encouraged me to try my hand.