Northern Ireland

‘Lost tradition’ of stone lifting celebrated in hills above Belfast

David Keohan takes on the Cloch Naoise as part of the west Belfast Bluebell Festival

David Keohan from Waterford city lifts a large stone on Black Mountain in West Belfastand. David holds a kettlebell-lifting world record and was in West Belfast for the Féile na gCloigíní Gorma (Blue Bell Festival). Stone lifting was a tradition in Scotland, Iceland the Basque Country and Ireland. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
David Keohan from Waterford city lifts Cloch Naoise on Black Mountain at the weekend. PICTURE: MAL McCANN
By Ryan McAleer

The ancient tradition of stone lifting returned to the hills around Belfast at the weekend.

Kettlebell world champion David Keohan, who is on a mission to uncover and lift the forgotten tests of strength across the island of Ireland, took his quest to Black Mountain on Saturday.

The Waterford man was invited to west Belfast as part of the eighth annual Féile na gCloigíní Gorma (Bluebell Festival).

His quest, launched when his gym closed during the first Covid-19 lockdown, has taken him across the island, where he has helped bring attention to ancient customs.

Mr Keohan appeared on RTÉ's Tommy Tiernan Show earlier this year, where he recounted how he had recently lifted two stones in Tyrone and Co Derry.

His trip to the townland of Creggandeveskey, near Carrickmore, saw him lift the ancient ‘Scalp’ stone last summer.

Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said the organisers of the west Belfast festival were aware of David’s work and felt it tied well in with Féile na gCloigíní Gorma.

The week-long festival, based in the Upper Springfield area, is an annual celebration of community, health and the local environment.

“This is something that has existed in Ireland and in other parts of the world for thousands of years,” said Ciarán.

“We have our own very long and storied history of it and David’s rediscovery of it is fascinating.

“The nature of the festival is about well-being, getting back outdoors and bringing people together, we thought David was ideal.”

David Keohan from Waterford city lifts a large stone on Black Mountain in West Belfastand. David holds a kettlebell-lifting world record and was in West Belfast for the Féile na gCloigíní Gorma (Blue Bell Festival). Stone lifting was a tradition in Scotland, Iceland the Basque Country and Ireland. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
David Keohan from Waterford city lifts Cloch Naoise on Black Mountain at the weekend. PICTURE: MAL McCANN

Ciarán said the Waterford man was tasked with the ‘Cloch Naoise’ challenge, a stone identified on Black Mountain.

It is named for the infamous highwayman Naoise O’Haughan, who was said to have hidden in caves on Black Mountain before he was captured and hanged in 1720.

After walking up the mountain on Saturday, David Keohan hoisted the stone to his head.

“We’re trying to keep those connections with the past,” added Ciarán.

Féile na gCloigíní Gorma was brought to a close on Saturday evening with a live music event in the grounds of Glór na Móna featuring local talent.

“It was an amazing day and an amazing atmosphere,” he said.

“It has been another really successful festival and it continues to go from strength to strength.”