We’ll get to watch him restore Leeside’s favourite clocks

15:33, 23 Apr 2026Updated 15:40, 23 Apr 2026

Clockmaker Philip Stokes – who worked on the Shandon bells’ Four-Faced Liar.

After months of being hidden away, the Shandon bells are shining again, and now the brains behind the Four Faced Liar’s restoration will bring us through the major project in a new RTÉ TV series.

Cork Clockmaker Phillip Stokes is one of Ireland’s last horlogists and took on the massive task under the ‘watch’ful eye of his 90-year-old mother. Now we get to see the behind-the-scenes of the restoration on RTÉs ‘Masters: Keepers of Tradition’.

The new show is a six -episode documentary series focusing on Irish practitioners of rare, traditional, and remarkable crafts and skills. It is inspired by the iconic series ‘Hands’, which first aired on RTÉ in the late 70’s and gave us a powerful insight into the lives and work of Irish craftspeople. The goal of this series is to bring contemporary artisans back into the public consciousness, while also shedding light on the current state of the craft community in Ireland.

Each episode will focus on one Irish craftsperson and their craft. But more than delivering a one-dimensional demo of the work they do, the show will also delve into the person they are, their motivations, the family and neighbours who influenced them, and, of course, their physical environments.

Mr Stokes will feature on the fourth episode of the series as he ‘tackles his most personal commission yet’ – restoring Shandon’s most recognisable building, the “Four Faced Liar”.

The five other craftspeople featured in the series are:

Stonemason Julia Gebel living in TipperaryHandweaver Beth Moran on Clare IslandBasket weaver Joe Hogan from Lough na FooeyBlacksmith John Hogan, who takes on a project at Westport House in Co. MayoThatcher Marika Leen is based in rural Galway

Colm Crowley, Head of RTÉ Cork, said: “In an always‑online world, this series offers a powerful alternative. Masters: Keepers of Tradition celebrates creativity that’s hands‑on, patient and deeply meaningful — showing younger audiences that fulfilment can be found in making, learning and contributing something lasting to the world around them.”

This landmark series, made with the support of The Heritage Council and Coimisiún na Meán, aims to champion local master craftpeople, showcase their skills and trades, and show how they have endured and diversified since the series ‘Hands’ finished. It aims to inspire the next generation of makers to take up the mantle and keep these trades alive in the 21st century.

The first episode will air Monday, April 27 8:30 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player

Episode 1: Stonemason A German stonemason came to restore the Rock of Cashel and never left. Now Julia Gebel has 22 days to carve an Irish revolutionary’s face in stone.Episode 2: Hand weaver A young American photographer landed on Clare Island 40 years ago and never left. Now Beth Moran is sending a piece of it – woven by her own hand – all the way to Brussels.Episode 3: Basketmaker With no training and a young family to feed, Joe Hogan gambled everything on a vanishing traditional craft. 50 years on, his baskets are in galleries from Tokyo to Clonakilty.Episode 4: Horologist One of Ireland’s last horologists, Philip Stokes, tackles his most personal commission yet, restoring Cork’s “Four Faced Liar” – all under the watchful eye of his 90-year-old mother.Episode 5: Blacksmith John Hogan never took to books, but he understood metal instinctively. When a crumbling Victorian gate at Westport House needed saving, there was only one man for the job.Episode 6: Thatcher Three old bachelors in rural Galway sent a Dutch teenager Marika Leen up onto their leaking roof. She never came down – and Ireland’s thatching tradition is all the richer for it.