Tommy is a fourth-generation bookbinder working in his family-run bindery, Duffy Bookbinders, located beside the Five Lamps in Dublin City Centre. The bindery has long upheld traditional bookbinding methods and has carried out a wide variety of work over the years. When Tommy and his family decided to produce their own range of notebooks, he felt it was important that they be true craft products—made with strong, visually beautiful book cloths and filled with heavy, versatile paper. Most of the process is completed by hand, ensuring each notebook reflects the quality and care at the heart of their tradition.
What’s a typical day in the studio like for you?
We like to start out on a Monday with a plan for the week. Our hand bound notebooks have become the largest part of the business and every week we are either producing notebooks from our own range or working on bespoke notebooks for new or repeat customers. The binding process is carried out in stages. The start of the week is about cutting book cloth and getting endpapers ready before we can move on to making covers and start the binding process of the books themselves. After a couple of days drying we can begin foiling and debossing before books are trimmed and cased in. Finally they are all banded before being packaged for delivery at the end of the week.
What do you like most about your work?
I always love to see how creative people can get when using our notebooks. It gives great satisfaction when they go to the trouble to contact us and tell us how much they appreciate not just the quality of our work but the family story behind it.
What advice would you give someone who is considering this craft career?
I think many people have an ambition of turning a passion or hobby into a business. Producing the craft product can be the easy part. Its dealing with the other parts of a business that can be the most challenging.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Our Five Lamps range of notebooks contain an image of the iconic Dublin landmark. The bindery is situated close to them. People often said that when they knew our bindery, “sure you’re down by the Five Lamps”
What’s the most challenging part of your craft?
Book cloths are getting harder to source. Especially when just looking for a few meters of a cloth or buckram.
What made you choose your discipline?
It was a family tradition. I’ve always been around the bindery even from a young age.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a DCCI member
Its always great to find like minded individuals who are here to help and assist you on your craft journey
