Heritage event to explore rare traditional skills

An event forming part of Heritage Week 2026 will give participants the chance to hear from two practitioners of increasingly rare traditional crafts in Ireland: stonemasonry and clockmaking.

Masters: The Stories Behind the Skills, will take place in-person at Ballineen Enniskeane Community Hall (BEDA Hall), in Ballineen. The event, hosted by John Creedon, will feature a behind-the-scenes look at ‘Masters: Keepers of Tradition’, a six-part documentary series celebrating these craftspeople.

Attendees will be treated to screenings of two episodes, featuring stonemason Julia Gabel, and clockmaker Philip Stokes.

The first episode to be shown features Gabel, as she carves the commemorative bust of Dick Barrett. Born in Hollyhill, near Ballineen, Barrett was prominent during the War of Independence before becoming a leading figure on the anti-Treaty side during the Civil War.

The bust was unveiled in 2024, as part of the commemoration of the centenary of Barrett’s death.

The second episode feature’s the major restoration of Cork’s historic Shandon clock, known locally as the 'four-faced liar'. Stokes worked alongside members of his family business to restore the timepiece, which was installed in 1847, and remains one of Cork city’s most distinctive landmarks.

The screenings will be followed by a discussion, hosted by Creedon, and featuring Gabel, Stokes, Heritage Council CEO Virginia Teehan, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD.

They will explore the making of the series, the enduring importance of traditional skills, and what can be done to ensure they continue to thrive in Ireland for generations to come.

The event forms part of the broader Heritage Week 2026 catalogue, the theme of which is Heritage at Risk. It invites individuals and communities to consider the elements of our heritage that are vulnerable or under threat, from historic buildings and archaeological sites, to natural habitats, traditional skills, folklore, language, and ways of life.

Speaking on her craft, Julia Gebel said: “What I love most about stonemasonry is the opportunity to work with Ireland’s built heritage and to learn from the generations of craftspeople who shaped it.

“Traditional skills are incredibly rewarding, but they need support, visibility, and new people coming into the craft. I hope “Masters: Keepers of Tradition’ helps people appreciate the skills and dedication behind traditional crafts, while encouraging more people, particularly women and younger generations, to see them as rewarding and fulfilling career paths,” she said.

‘Masters: Keepers of Tradition’ – which aired on RTÉ in April and May 2026 - was inspired by the RTÉ series ‘Hands’ which aired in the late 1970s. It offered an insight into the lives and work of Irish craftspeople.

The television series is part of the Heritage Council’s wider commitment to supporting the traditional skills sector, including its ambition to create a Centre of Excellence for Traditional Skills in Ireland.