The Mall, Armagh – 17th May 2025

Heritage, strength, and community came together in fine form at The Mall in Armagh as the Irish Stone Monsters hosted the 2025 edition of the Novice Irish Natural Stone Lifting Games. With athletes from all over Ireland and strong local support, the competition celebrated traditional stone lifting with five punishing events that tested every aspect of physical and mental fortitude. This marked the largest Novice contest to date in terms of competitors, spectators, and successful lifts.

The Games began at 10am and were officially opened at 1pm, when male and female lifters—kitted out in kilts and some carrying swords—marched up and down The Mall to the music of an accompanying bagpiper. The ceremony was warmly received by the crowd and added a ceremonial flourish to a day otherwise filled with raw, uncompromising strength.

The men’s division featured five events. The Brianna Stones demanded each athlete carry two historic stones—85kg and 70kg—chained 2.2 metres apart over a 10-metre course, one at a time, without throwing them. The Clare Glen Rock Hold tested pain tolerance and posture, with a 20kg stone held at arm’s length for time. In the Walking Stones, athletes carried Mrs Dinnie (86kg) and Baby Donald (107.8kg) around a 13-metre circle, while the Fin McCool Stone to Shoulder challenged competitors to complete as many reps as possible with an 80kg stone in 75 seconds. The day concluded with the punishing Shannon Duck Walk, in which a 120kg T-bar stone had to be waddled 10 metres up and back in a 75-second limit.

The women’s division tackled equally demanding challenges, including a 40kg Stone to Shoulder, a modified Shannon Duck Walk, and the grueling Dinnie Stones Hold for time—where lifters held two ringed stones for as long as grip and grit would allow.

Standout performances came from Barney O’Hagan, whose strength and consistency across all five events earned him a dominant first-place finish in the men’s competition. He was closely followed by Jack Maguire, who impressed with his stone-to-shoulder technique, and Gavin Patton, whose determined Duck Walk brought roars from the crowd. In the women’s division, Dolores McGuckin delivered an outstanding all-round display, leading from the front across every event. Tara Liggett showed explosive strength in the shoulder stone, and Liz Duprey earned praise for her composure, endurance, and strong finishes across the board.

Two competitors were awarded the Warrior Spirit Prize for displaying exceptional determination and spirit throughout the competition: Calvin Graham in the men’s division and Jude Meakin in the women’s. Both lifters embodied the ethos of stone lifting—courage, persistence, and honour in the face of adversity.

A special thank you goes to Stanley Hamilton, who ran an outstanding series of grip strength challenges for children, families, and adult spectators throughout the day. These events added a fantastic community element to the Games and introduced many to the world of strength sport.

Those who topped the podium will now take the next steps in their lifting journeys. Barney O’Hagan, as winner of the men’s novice division, receives automatic free entry into the Qualifiers this August. In the women’s division, the top three finishers—Dolores McGuckin, Tara Liggett, and Liz Duprey—have all earned automatic invitations to Britain’s Strongest Stonelifters, taking place this September.

The next event will be held on Saturday 9th August 2025, from 10am to 4pm, again at The Mall in Armagh. This will be the Irish Natural Stone Lifting Games Qualifiers, where 20 men will battle it out to earn their place in the finals. With pride, tradition, and legacy on the line, only one will be crowned the Ultimate Warrior of All Time .

Final Results – Men’s Division:

    Barney O’Hagan

    Jack Maguire

    Gavin Patton

    David Nolan

    Michael Wilson

    Martin Gallagher

    John McCabe

    Andrew Walker

    Conor Heffernan

    Thomas Harper

    Dean Harkin

    Jason Ryan

    Samuel Arbuthnot

    Calvin Graham (Warrior Spirit Prize)

Final Results – Women’s Division:

    Dolores McGuckin

    Tara Liggett

    Liz Duprey

    Jude Meakin (Warrior Spirit Prize)