Centuries ago, young men in Celtic villages proved their strength and identity not in gyms but by lifting stones older than memory — rites of passage where pride, community, culture, and strength were one.

That tradition vanished… until David Keohan rediscovered it.

In this conversation, David reveals how the ancient Irish stones — some untouched for generations — are reawakening national pride, reconnecting people with ancestry, and giving young men and women a pathway back to meaningful challenge.

From kettlebell world champion to cultural archaeologist of strength, David’s story shows how one person with a spark of curiosity can ignite a global movement.

📌 Based on our conversation recording — source: 

🔥 Key Episode Themes

• Reviving ancient rites of passage — what lifting stones meant in Irish villages for thousands of years
• COVID as the unlikely catalyst that led to the rediscovery of a forgotten strength culture
• Ireland's lost cultural roots — and how colonialism wiped many of them from memory
• Why people weep when they lift these stones
• The moment David lifted Ireland’s most sacred stone — and a crowd sang him into history
• How stone lifting is now spreading worldwide, including Australia and the USA
• The powerful message for young people craving purpose and meaning

🏋️ Who is David Keohan?

• Two-time World Champion in kettlebell sport
• Founder of the movement restoring Ireland’s stone-lifting traditions
• Cultural advocate working with archaeologists, historians and local communities
• Creator of the documentary Made of Stone
• Currently writing a book on the history, mythology and revival of stone lifting

📍Episode Chapters

TimeChapter00:00 | The myth, the stones, and the revival begins
07:00 | From overweight dad to world champion
10:00 | The pandemic and a spark in the garden
14:00 | Lifting the legendary Fianna Stone in Scotland
18:00 | First discovery on the Aran Islands
26:00 | The moment that brought an entire island to tears
39:00 | Ancient strength on mountaintops
46:00 | What villages gain when stones are rediscovered
53:00 | A movement that’s now circling the world
59:00 | Why young people are craving real challenge
1:05:00 | A call to action: “Don’t overthink it — just start”

🎧 Listen + Watch

📸 Featured Stone Locations in This Episode

• Inis Mór — Mór na Port Véal an Dúin
• The Seafin Stone, County Derry
• Wakes & Harvest stones in County Clare
• …and many more emerging from the earth once again

🧭 Connect with David Keohan

Instagram: @indianastones
Documentary: Made of Stone – RTE (global release pending)

🚀 Ready to Find (and Lift) Your Impossible?

David reclaimed a national tradition.

You have your own stone to lift.

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Let’s make your impossible… inevitable.