On a windswept beach in County Waterford, David Keohan is doing something that hasn’t been seen in centuries. With chalk-dusted hands and a grunt of primal effort, he hoists a 115kg limestone boulder onto his chest. As the rock thuds back into the sand, it echoes a sound from Ireland’s deep past—a sound of strength, community, and heritage that Keohan is single-handedly bringing back to life.

Keohan, known to his legion of online followers as "Indiana Stones," is a man on a mission. He is not just lifting heavy objects; he is lifting a culture out of obscurity. This ancient sport, once a staple of funeral games, harvest festivals, and tests of manhood, had all but vanished from the Irish consciousness. Now, thanks to Keohan’s scholarly detective work and brute strength, the "manhood stones" of old are being rediscovered in graveyards, beaches, and fields across the Emerald Isle.

The Scholarly Hercules

Keohan’s journey is a blend of myth and muscle. A former kettlebell champion, he uses folklore, literature, and local tips to track down these legendary stones. "It’s not just about strength. Every single lifting stone has an amazing story attached to it," he explains. His work has identified 53 stones so far, with hopes to find dozens more. Each discovery is a "dam burst" of local history, reconnecting communities with their ancestors who once lifted the very same rocks.

The feat of "getting the wind under it"—lifting a stone a few inches—was once a rite of passage. To lift it to the knees made you a champion; to the chest, a legend. Keohan is reviving these standards, creating a continuum of strength that stretches back millennia. His efforts have sparked a modern renaissance, with enthusiasts now trekking to remote areas to test their mettle against history.

• Cultural Revival: Keohan’s work is boosting interest in the Irish language and other traditional pastimes, proving that heritage can be physical and tangible.
• Global Reach: What started in a garden during lockdown has gone global, with stones being shipped to Boston and a dedicated lifting studio opening in Dublin.
• Living History: Cultural historian Conor Heffernan notes that stone lifting was once a proxy for colonial rebellion and a marker of community identity, a legacy Keohan is fighting to get recognized by UNESCO.

Connecting with the Past

For Keohan, the project has become more about the story than the lift. "It has given me purpose and a reattachment to what it means to be Irish," he says. Standing on the beach, staring at the Irish Sea, he is not just a man lifting a stone; he is a bridge to a forgotten world.

As he applies for a PhD to further his research, "Dr. Indiana Stones" proves that some traditions are too heavy to be swept away by time. They just need someone strong enough to pick them up again.