▁times ▁of ▁difficulty , ▁in ▁a ▁practice ▁known ▁as ▁Sh ila ▁A ro han ▁( A sc ending ▁the ▁stone ). ▁ ▁Ho led ▁stones ▁On ▁the ▁cr est ▁of ▁a ▁hill ▁near ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁Do agh ▁in ▁County ▁An trim , ▁Northern ▁Ireland , ▁s its ▁a ▁Bron ze ▁Age ▁standing ▁stone ▁or ▁' hol estone '. ▁It ▁is ▁ 1 . 5 ▁metres ▁high , ▁with ▁a ▁ 1 0   cm ▁diameter ▁hole ▁cut ▁into ▁it . ▁It ▁is ▁not ▁known ▁why ▁the ▁Hol estone ▁was ▁created , ▁but ▁has ▁attract ed ▁visitors ▁seeking ▁external ▁love ▁and ▁happiness ▁since ▁at ▁least ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁century . ▁Upon ▁reaching ▁the ▁Hol estone ▁cou ples ▁undert ake ▁a ▁traditional ▁ceremony ▁where ▁the ▁woman ▁reaches ▁her ▁hand ▁through ▁the ▁circular ▁hole ▁and ▁her ▁partner ▁takes ▁it , ▁thus ▁p led ging ▁themselves ▁to ▁love ▁each ▁other ▁forever . ▁There ▁is ▁a ▁legend ▁regarding ▁a ▁black ▁horse ▁that ▁inhab its ▁the ▁field ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁hol estone ▁is ▁situated . ▁According ▁to ▁this ▁legend ▁a ▁young ▁couple ▁were ▁married ▁at ▁the ▁stone , ▁but ▁the ▁gro om ▁committed ▁an ▁act ▁of ▁ad ul tery ▁on ▁their ▁wed ding ▁night . ▁For ▁this ▁act ▁he ▁was ▁curs ed ▁by ▁the ▁stone ▁to ▁spend ▁et ern ity ▁as ▁a ▁horse , ▁never ▁dying , ▁and ▁never ▁able ▁to ▁leave ▁that ▁field . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁Rock - cut ▁bas in ▁– ▁the ▁fol kl ore ▁of ▁hol est ones . ▁ ▁References