Analysis: Shipping the Cloch Bán up to Boston is a slightly eccentric idea, but it captures how diaspora communities find joy in heritage
By Conor Heffernan, Ulster University
On a windswept beach in Co Waterford in May, a crowd gathered for an unusual send-off. In the sand at Annestown on the Copper Coast lay a hefty chunk of Irish history: a lifting stone, waiting to begin its journey from Ireland to Boston. Strongman and folklorist David Keohan hefted the boulder one last time on Irish soil as onlookers cheered.
The stone, known locally as Cloch Bán (the 'White Stone'), was a training stone used by Keohan during his own journey to rediscover Ireland’s lost stone lifting culture. At the event, members of the public, young and old, seasoned lifters and curious first-timers, took turns trying to lift the stone, laughing and straining in equal measure.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Nine O'Clock Show, David Keohan on the forgotten history of stone lifting in Ireland
In a gesture blending ceremony and play, local poets Ger Devine and Éabha Róis blessed the stone with verse, and well-wishers helped fund its voyage through crowdfunding. As the stone set sail, it carried more than just weight: it carried stories, traditions, and the exuberant spirit of a people who have long used sport and fun to bridge the gap between home and diaspora.
Reviving an ancient Irish sport
This transatlantic stone lift is the latest chapter in the revival of an almost forgotten Irish tradition. For centuries, Ireland’s rural communities tested their mettle by lifting heavy stones at local gatherings. Folklore is rich with tales of young men, and sometimes women, proving their strength by lifting stones at weddings, wakes or village fairs. The ability to raise a famed local stone was a rite of passage and a source of pride.
Stone lifting was once part of funeral games and other communal rites, but also simply a form of entertainment. Communities cheered on feats of strength as a joyful spectacle. In time, the practice waned. Stones lay untouched for generations, their legends fading from memory.
'You are picking up a piece of local lore and it feels amazing'
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David Keohan describes the process and impact of lifting stones#TommyTiernanShow | @tommedian pic.twitter.com/SD6PerE7vH
Waterford native and record-breaking kettlebell lifter Keohan stumbled across references to these ‘stones of strength’ in folklore archives and became determined to bring back what he describes as a ‘lost culture’ in Ireland. Over the past five years, he has travelled the length of the country, locating over 40 historic lifting stones. Each stone comes with its own legend: a giant-slaying warrior, a chieftain’s inauguration challenge, a friendly rivalry at the crossroads.
By sharing videos and stories online, Keohan has drawn a loyal following and inspired lifting events across the country. What began as an eccentric personal mission has now gained mainstream attention. Irish media have celebrated the revival, and even international outlets such as GQ and Reuters have taken notice.
A sporting gift to the diaspora
The Boston-bound stone is perhaps the most dramatic symbol yet of Ireland’s stone lifting renaissance. Organised by Keohan, Joshua Mackintosh from Boston’s No Fame Games and the author, the stone will be used at the No Fame Games event next weekend at Boston's Irish Cultural Centre.
So why send a 115kg stone across the Atlantic? The aim was simple: to preserve and share heritage in a living, physical form, a gesture of solidarity and shared identity between Irish communities worldwide.
In Massachusetts, the stone’s arrival is eagerly awaited by the No Fame Games community. The No Fame Games is a Boston group devoted to Celtic strength culture, bringing people together for Highland games, stone lifts and other heavy-but-fun sports. Their motto, ‘No strength without unity’, speaks to the broader purpose, as these gatherings are as much about community and nostalgia as competition.
The Waterford stone will soon feature in their events, where Irish-born, Irish-descended and enthusiasts of all backgrounds can quite literally grasp a piece of Irish heritage. It is a playful, slightly eccentric idea, but it perfectly captures how diaspora communities find joy in heritage. The diaspora experience often carries the ache of distance and loss, but a game, a gathering, or a shared lift of a stone can recreate a sense of place and belonging.
The lifting stone sent to Boston embodies this spirit. It is simultaneously ancient and new, a piece of old Ireland repurposed for fresh challenges and celebrations in a new land. This is not the first time sport has been used to connect Irish communities across borders. From the GAA's American tours in the 1880s to modern hurling exhibitions and rugby internationals abroad, Irish games have long acted as a bridge between home and diaspora.
Ireland’s diaspora has often been sustained by such stories and playful traditions. From the old days of wren boys and road bowling in far-flung communities to today’s pub leagues and heritage sports festivals, the act of coming together in sport has been a joyful constant. It reminds people of who they are and where they came from, but also creates something new in the here and now.
As the Waterford lifting stone finds a welcome in Boston, it carries with it an invitation; come play, reminisce, and make new memories. At the Irish Cultural Centre in Boston on June 22nd, a group of people will soon be gathered around an unassuming white rock, laughing, straining, cheering each other on. In those moments, they will be erasing the distance between Ireland and its diaspora, one lift at a time.
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Dr Conor Heffernan is Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Ulster University. He is a former Research Ireland awardee.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
