Keeping the ancient tradition of stone lifting alive in Ireland

IT was a form of job interview that probably wouldn’t pass HR rules these days - a test of manhood and strength.

Stone lifting has been used for centuries as a test of strength and character and now a local group is aiming to keep the tradition alive - and they are bringing an event to Armagh’s historic Mall.

The Irish Stone Monsters, in partnership with Resurgence Training Facility, is working to engage with families and people of all ages in a relaxed and positive environment.

Committed to promoting good relations they are bringing the history of stone lifting alive by showcasing what stone lifting events would have looked like many years ago.

Ireland has a rich history of stone lifting similar to Scotland and Iceland.

Stone lifting is a test of strength and character. Each stone is unique, awkward to hold and typically only lifted once (if at all for those of us whose weightlifting consists on pens and pints).

In Ireland stone lifting has been used for centuries as a test of manhood, passage into adulthood and even as a means of getting a job on a farm and such other labouring tasks.

A spokesperson explained, “If a man, young or old, raised the stone from the ground (put wind beneath the stone) it was a great day, if he raised it to his knees he was a champion, if he raised to his chest he was a hero.

“Farmers used to ask young men to lift stones to prove that they would be able to carry out the work on the farm.”

In modern times stone lifting is practised by both men and women all over the world.

Stone lifting began to disappear in the 18th and early 19th centuries and then vanished almost entirely around the 1840s when the Great Famine devastated the country.

Most of the stones remain untouched and still lie where they were lifted last.

In Scotland and Iceland it is possible to get maps detailing where every stone is located and the stories behind them.

The stones can be found in graveyards, Church grounds, fields, schools, and canals/rivers. In many cases, particularly in modern times, there are lists of the strongmen/strongwomen who have lifted the stones.

In Ireland the same records were not kept, and the Irish Stone Monsters, who are keen to revive this history, are working alongside those who can assist in this.

More recently, maps of Irish testing stones are now being produced. David Keohan, since Covid 19, has spent time travelling around Ireland and has so far found 31 genuine historic testing stones, most of which he has lifted himself.

“There were hundreds of stories about this, of men and women lifting stones as feats of strength and rites of passage,” he said. “So I went to these areas and started asking older people about the stories.

“Sure enough there was always someone in the area who knew about it. You’re meeting these people and they’re telling you a load about it and the history behind it, the stone or the last person to lift it.

“There is always a history attached to it. It’s not just a stone out in the field. It’s a specific stone in an area, usually a prominent area like a crossroads. The lifting of these stones could be going back 1,500 years in some cases.”

The Irish Stone Monsters would like to create events throughout Ireland to give people an opportunity to learn more about the sport and the history behind it.

A lot of the Strongmen/Strongwomen train at Resurgence Training Facility in Lurgan.

Already planned for this year are two kids/parents competitions at the gym along with two adult competitions.

There is a ladies and men’s novice Natural stone lifting competition being held in the Mall in Amagh on Saturday, 17th May, and a four Nations Stones Competition being held at Scarvagh House on Saturday 13th Sept.