Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s top attractions with thousands upon thousands flocking here every year. The current castle, which replaced two previous castles on the same site, was built in 1446 by the King of Munster, Dermot McCarthy.
The magnificent Blarney Castle is well worth a visit
The history of the ‘Blarney Stone’ itself is a bit more difficult to decipher. Some say it was ‘Jacob’s Pillow’ brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah, others say it was the deathbed pillow of famous Irish saint, St. Columcille. More say it is the ‘Stone of Ezel’ brought to Ireland from the Crusades, still more say it is the stone that Moses struck water from. We may never know the origins of the stone but one thing we do know for sure is that people have been kissing the Blarney Stone for centuries and have sworn of its magical properties!
Make your way to the top of the castle and join the queue to kiss the stone and get the ‘gift of the gab’! For a small fee, a photographer will take your photo as you kiss the stone. Your photo will be ready to collect when you return to the castle entrance and will be in a nice surround with a photo of the castle on the front cover and on the inside a certificate to prove you have received the ‘Gift of Eloquence’.
Here we are kissing the Blarney Stone – and we haven’t stopped talking since!
Get the ‘Gift of Eloquence’
Or the ‘Gift of the Gab’ as it is known in Ireland!
Besides the Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle has a lot more to offer the tourist. The castle itself is a fine example of an Irish castle keep. Blarney Castle also has extensive gardens in its grounds and they are another fantastic attraction. There are two walks you can follow in the gardens, the lake walk takes about 45 minutes, and the woodland walk takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Nearby also are the famous Blarney Woollen Mills, where you can shop for some fine quality Irish gifts to take home with you!
For more information on Irish Attractions please visit our youtube channel LoveIrishToursTV
If you would like to have Blarney Castle on your Itinerary, let us know and we can customize your self-drive or private escorted itinerary to include a visit to this great place. Most of our coach tours include a stop-off at Blarney Castle as well. Contact us for more details or visit Love Irish Tours for more information.
