The Wind Beneath the Stone:My Quest to Unearth a Piece of Ireland’s Folklore

One competitive strongman's compelling, heartwarming journey across Ireland to revive the lost tradition of stone lifting.

When world kettlebell lifting champion (and landscape painter) David Keohan heard about old tales of stone lifting, he was captivated. So he set off on a quest to see if he could rediscover any of these famous stones, and whether he could match the feats of the heroes of the past by lifting them to allow the wind beneath the stone once more. 

Helped by a 1930s archive in which schoolchildren shared their local folklore, Keohan began to travel the country in search of the stones. They were often to be found hidden away in quiet villages or cemeteries, their purpose almost forgotten. But, as he journeyed round Ireland, he met those who recalled the stories of the stones, and the legends attached to them. Soon, others were joining him as he took on the challenge of lifting these pieces of history, the heaviest of which weighed well over 450 pounds. 

As Keohan’s efforts gathered more and more attention, he came to realize that this was more than a personal challenge. Stonelifting had become a way for Irish people to reclaim their lost heritage and to come together to celebrate what made their homeland special.

The Wind Beneath the Stone is an inspirational story of hope, togetherness, and community, revealing how a simple challenge can take on a life of its own told through the natural beauty of the Irish landscape. | Hailing from the southeast of Ireland, David was born and raised in Co. Waterford on the beautiful Copper coast.  Once an overweight smoker with an unhealthy diet and poor sleep, David  turned his life and health around through kettlebell training and marathon running.  

Inspired by his newfound health and successful lifting career, David set off to unearth and rediscover the lost culture of stone lifting in Ireland by following old folklore stories and mythologies. 

David’s journey has garnered attention at home and across the world. A community of over 37k+ engaged fans follow David on his stone-lifting adventures and his stories are featured in articles in GQ, podcasts, television and more. 

His goal is to bring Irish stone lifting back into the cultural consciousness, ultimately helping people to reconnect with their forgotten ancient customs and folklore. In addition to David’s physical pursuits, he is an avid musician and artist, and a successful content creator and presenter.