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

Told through the natural beauty of the Irish landscape, The Wind Beneath the Stone is an inspirational story of hope and community that reveals how a simple challenge can take on a life of its own. When world kettle-bell lifting champion David Keohan heard the old tales of stone-lifting, he was captivated, setting off on a quest to rediscover these famous stones and attempt the feats of heroes past by lifting them. Guided by a 1930s archive, the dúchas, 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 through Ireland, he met those who recalled the stories of the stones and the legends attached to them. Soon, others joined 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 garnered more and more attention, he realized that this was more than a personal challenge. Stone-lifting had become a way for Irish people to reclaim their lost heritage, coming together to celebrate what makes their homeland special. "[Keohan] is a scholarly Hercules who parses myth, folklore and literature . . . [and] had almost single-handedly revived the practice [of stone-lifting] in Ireland and helped stir global interest."—The Guardian