Stone Lifting
by GAA
Irish Stone Lifting is a traditional sport with deep roots in both Irish culture and the land itself. In fact, it was practiced at fairs, Sunday masses, and weddings, as well as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, as a “job interview” to become a fisherman or a dry-stone wall builder, and even as a showcase of strength to gain social status. For hundreds of years, the exact same stones that our ancient ancestors lifted from the ground have been used. By lifting them, you raise a piece of local history and folklore, which has remained in the exact same place and been lifted the same way for generations. This creates a powerful bond between the ground and the game: between the bones of the earth and the bones of man.
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Ph credits: The Guardian