DCU collaboration rediscovers lost Irish tradition of stone lifting

The study, undertaken by Dr David Nolan from DCU and Dr Conor Heffernan from QUB, is the first comprehensive scholarly study on the practice and examines the cultural significance of these stones, which were used historically to physically identify the strongest men in villages throughout Ireland.

The study charts how popular narratives suggest that stone lifting was wiped out during the Great Famine of 1845-1852. While this explanation has gained traction in media coverage, this new research calls for more rigorous historical investigation before accepting this conclusion.

The National Folklore Collection, particularly the Schools' Collection gathered between 1937-1939, offers the richest source of information about the practice. Stories collected from elders reveal that stone lifting often took place at crossroads, markets, and fairs—important social gathering places in rural Ireland.

These accounts frequently contain themes of religious tension, national pride, and nostalgia for a stronger past generation. In one notable story, an elderly Irish man humiliated an arrogant English visitor by lifting a stone the foreigner claimed was impossible to raise.

The research suggests that while the Famine likely contributed to stone lifting's decline through migration and population loss, other factors may have played important roles. These include urbanization, the rise of organized team sports like Gaelic football, and the emergence of "scientific" physical culture practices using gymnasium equipment rather than stones.