With Indiana Stones
1x50min documentary by Tile Media for RTÉ
About the documentary:
During Covid, David became across a short story by Liam O’Flaherty’s short story “The Stone”; the tale of an old man returning to his home on Inishmor, when he stumble upon a large granite rock, that he lifted as a young man winning the respect of his neighbours and friends. This achievement was the greatest moment of his life. Surely O’Flaherty’s tale pointed to a now lost tradition of stone lifting as a test of strength and endurance. David became obsessed with reigniting what he believes is a lost Irish culture of lifting stones. He began searching for references to “lifting stones” in the National Folklore Collection of manuscripts and oral histories on Duchas.ie, the more dug the more he found. Once lockdown ended he set out to see if these stones still existed, and he found them them in graveyards, on beaches, beside pubs or high up on the side of rocky hills and mountains. When he found these stone, he carefully balanced his phone, press record and lifted them. Indiana Stones was born.
Made of Stone follows David on his journey, along the way he has become Ireland’s newest social media star: Indiana Stones, as he sets out to inspire a nation to fall in love with…stones!
The documentary is part travelogue, part fitness show, part natural history and folklore documentary, as we follow Indiana Stones in his search for Irelands ancient lifting stones.
There is both a mythical and mystical element to David’s journey as he engages with people in the localities in which the stones are discovered. With the help of those with knowledge of their local landscape and history it becomes more than just David finding and lifting stones. It becomes a story about our past and present, a story about community and reconnecting with a culture and heritage that has almost disappeared.
The documentary was produced by Tile Media and Old Hall Films for RTÉ and was shot and directed by Will Hutchby.
David Keohan and member sof the production team are available for interview.
