THE old saying set in stone has been given a whole new meaning, this Valentine s Day.
While Cork may have the Blarney Stone, Kildare can now boast of having a Love Stone .
Proprietor of the Moone High Cross, John Clynch is adamant that cupid will point his arrow in the direction of the well known venue this Valentines night and bring with it love, peace and harmony.
The Love Stone or marriage rock as it is known is steeped in old Celtic traditions. It is believed to offer good fortune and love blessing for the couples that decide to use it.
There are no acts of wizardry or taking of special potions involved. It is just a simple form of bring two people together to help give their romance a little bit of inspiration and encouragement.
This is how it works. The couple first of all sit down in specially designed seats on either side of the Love Stone . The circular stone symbolically represents the continuity of love and the hope that their special love will last forever.
The couple put their hands through the centre hole of the stone. If couple are getting married they would exchange rings as Mr Clynch rings a bell. The bell was used by local nuns to call the sisters to their mid-day meal. The Love stone, which is hundreds of years old, emanates beautiful love energy, Mr. Clynch said.
Having watched couples try it and talking to them afterwards it can be a very moving experience. Some do it for a bit of fun, for others it can be a profound experience. Women have described the love blessing as an emotional experience, while men feel energetically charged up after it, he said..
The Love Stone has a long history in the local area. It came from the mills of a very famous family, known as Shackelton. The Shackelton s were a Quaker family who lived in Ballitore since the 17th Century. The family had floor mills in Belan and Moone. The most famous family member, Sir Ernest Shackelton is one of the greatest explorers of all times. The Love Stone is not only popular with newlyweds; many older couples renew their love for each other and receive the special blessing.
It s not a coincidence that the Love Stone is located in Moone, which conjures-up romantic images, said John Clynch.
