Join Jonathan as he welcomes international guests to journey through history and time – discovering and recovering the fables, myths, and legends of ancient stones and stones of strength.
Imagine for a moment that you’re standing over a stone, and the way you have to lift it is by crouching over, placing the heels of your hands into the hollows on either side, then press your knees against your hands, and leverage the stone upward from that awkward kneeling position.
Historian and author Deirdre O’Neill (@remnantsofourpast (https://www.instagram.com/remnantsofourpast/?hl=en)) tells the remarkable story of this particular stone: a medieval apex stone that was once lifted by local men, and was on the verge of disappearing from history. Deirdre has spent years researching Ireland’s forgotten traditions, including the practice of stonelifting. Through Ireland’s National Folklore Collection, she eventually tracked it down inside of a church, where its significance was completely unknown.
We also talk about why Ireland’s stonelifting tradition was interrupted, how the Great Famine contributed to that break in tradition, and why Deirdre believes the recent revival is bringing these “sleeping stones” back to life. Sit back and enjoy as we have at it discussing all things THE APEX STONE OF DRUMREILLY.
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https://www.remnantsofourpast.com/ (http://remnantsofourpast.com)
Instagram: @remnantsofourpast (https://www.instagram.com/remnantsofourpast)
Facebook: @remnantsofourpastofficial (https://www.facebook.com/Remnantsofourpastofficial/about)
TikTok: @remnantsofourpast (https://www.tiktok.com/@remnantsofourpast)
1 Sept 2026
Exploring Irish Stonelifting
Ireland has a long and fascinating history of stonelifting, but much of that history was nearly forgotten.
In this episode, my guest Dr. Conor Heffernan (https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/c-heffernan), explores the origins of Irish stonelifting, from ancient mythology and folklore to the stories preserved in Ireland’s National Folklore Collection. We discuss why stonelifting never became a formalized sport in Ireland, how migration and cultural change contributed to its decline, and what modern lifters are doing to bring the tradition back.
Dr. Conor also explains the challenges facing Irish stonelifting today, including responsible lifting practices and the growing tension between social media, accessibility, and protecting these pieces of living history.
Most importantly, we discuss the future of stonelifting and why preserving this tradition may be just as important as lifting the stones themselves. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it discussing all things IRISH STONELIFTING.
https://physicalculturestudy.com/ (https://physicalculturestudy.com/)
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1 Aug 2026
Clach Fear Alba
Can a stone make a man?
In 2011, while working on a construction site in Scotland, my guest Martin Jancsics (@thestoneman265 (https://www.instagram.com/thestoneman265/)) found a large stone that he took home simply to train with it, never imagining it would lead him into the world of Scotland's historic lifting stones.
That one discovery introduced him to legendary stone historian Peter Martin and ultimately helped make Martin one of the leading voices preserving Scotland's stonelifting tradition.
Today, that same stone named Clach Fear Alba, has crossed the Atlantic to begin a new chapter in America. Before sending it overseas, Martin completed an incredible challenge, lifting the 266 lb stone 1,000 times in 14 weeks.
In this episode, we talk about the remarkable story behind the stone, the tradition it represents, and why Martin believes lifting a stone can build far more than strength. Sit back and enjoy as we have at it discussing all things CLACH FEAR ALBA.
Stonelifting: An Ancient Test of Strength Revived (https://a.co/d/2QpXiHM) By Martin Jancsics/Dr. Bill Crawford
Strength: A Life Changing Adventure (https://www.amazon.com/STRENGTH-Changing-Adventure-Martin-Jancsics/dp/B0GMYYYMZP/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1UBV761VO5BK9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4c01xclZcQdaR8H2rcjsDZfW5golAwsJcD4R8devxE2d7dm204GT_CGQDdKMlW4NBRbakBI9X-q2FCobcph-jw.ySOsa5w9nOPj_RisXWQG-Hoc8v6-CqnpZx8e10RK93k&dib_tag=se&keywords=martin+jancsics&qid=1785525269&s=digital-text&sprefix=martin+jancsic%2Cdigital-text%2C197&sr=1-6-catcorr) By Martin Jancsics
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
25
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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