THE first episode in a new RTÉ One documentary series Makers: Keepers of Tradition which aired on Monday followed Master stonecutter and sculptor Julia Gebel as she designed, created and installed a monument of Dick Barrett in Ballineen.

Masters: Keepers of Tradition, made with the support of The Heritage Council and Coimisiún na Meán focuses on six 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 the public 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.

Born in Hollyhill, Ballineen, Dick Barrett was executed by the Free State Government in 1922 as a reprisal for the death of TD Sean Hales, despite having nothing to do with the West Cork's man death.

The first episode showed Julia, who is originally from Germany, take on a commission unlike anything she has attempted since college – a bust of Irish revolutionary Dick Barrett, for the centenary of his reinterment from Mountjoy prison after he was unlawfully executed in 1922.

Working from a clay model and using the difficult lost-form process, the Tipperary-based stonemason had only 22 days to carve his likeness into a block of Kilkenny blue limestone sourced from the historic Threecastles quarry in Kilkenny. 

As Dick’s face emerges from the stone, she tries to understand what it must be like to give one’s life for one’s country, her own identity, and how important it is that her children understand what happened in their nation’s history.

Each episode will focus on one Irish craftsperson and their craft.

But more than delivering a one-dimensional demo of the work they do, it will also delve into the person they are, their motivations, the family and neighbours who influenced them, and, of course, their physical environs.

In each episode, viewers will follow the creative process as the artisans take on a local commission and witness how it affects them and the commissioner when it’s finished.

Head of RTÉ Cork, Colm Crowley, 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.”

Members of the Dick Barrett commemoration committee also feature in this opening episode.

Masters: Keepers of Tradition is available on the RTÉ Player