Of all the castles (and maybe all of the buildings) in Ireland, Blarney castle might be one of the most famous and well known. This castle and its grounds have perhaps the highest concentration of legends, lore, and good ol’ Irish magic per square meter than any other place in Ireland. So let’s dive into why you have to experience some of this magic yourself
Location
Monacnapa, Blarney, Co. Cork, Ireland, Telephone . 00 353 21 438 5252 https://www.blarneycastle.ie/
Easy Pronunciation:
Blarney Castle (Blar-nee Castle)
Why You Should Visit
- If you’re lookin’ for the gift of gab, this is where a little Irish magic might help you out
- Blarney Castle has extensive gardens, stables, a restored Victorian house, caves and more magical spots like the Witch Stone
- Blarney’s Poison Garden has one of the largest collections of poisonous plants- look but don’t touch
- Plenty of room for a picnic at the edge of their mystical and pristine lake after wandering the grounds
- So close to Cork city that you can experience magic in less than 15 minutes from your hotel
Quick Attractions & Must Sees and Must Do’s
- Of course, you HAVE to kiss the Blarney stone. These days you might want to bring a face wipe to ensure that only the magic (and not germs) stay with you on your trip
- Check out the entire castle keep and its tower
- Carefully stroll through the world famous Poison Garden
- Check out restored Victorian Blarney House in the Summer to see how the Colthurst family lives.
- See the Witches Stone according to folklore is the stone prison where the soul of a witch is imprisoned
- Walk along the beautiful lake that has, you guessed it, a great magical myth too
- Check out the working farm and surrounding area, especially if you’re blessed with a nice sunny day
Brief BUT Interesting History
The first castle or building on site is thought to have been constructed in the 12th century but was replaced in 1210 with a stone building. Unfortunately, like many older great buildings, it was destroyed by fire in 1446. The good news is that Blarney castle was rebuilt by the MacCarty family. The bad news is that almost exactly 200 years later the building was seized during one of many wars with the English. Irish luck brought the castle back to the MacCartys and they brought a new Earl title with them when moving back in.
Blarney castle changed hands many many times between 1660’s and current day, some of those hands being the Hollow Sword Blade company and even the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. The Jeffrey family purchased the castle and its lands from the Lord Chief Justice and build a lovely mansion near the castle keep. Like the first Blarney castle, it succumbed to fire in 1874 and was a total loss. The Jeffrey family rebuilt the mansion on a nearby hill in the popular Victorian style. In the mid 1800’s a member of the Jeffrey family married into the Colthurst family and members of the Colthurst family still occupy the mansion to this day.
The history of the famous Blarney stone is a little less sure with several myths about its origin and its provenance. This stone, AKA Lia Fail or ‘Fatal Stone’ is rumored to be from Scotland, brought over as a gift to thank the original fighting Irish (see what we did there?) by none other than Robert the Bruce. Rumored to be Jacob’s Pillow or the dying pillow-stone of a saint (life was tough back then) these Scottish tales are some of the older rumors about the stone. Another potential provenance is that this is ‘The Stone of Ezel’, brought back from the crusades, that biblical David hid behind to escape the wrath of the then King Saul. Others take it all the way to Moses, insisting that this is the stone that he struck from which water gushed.
We honestly can’t say which story is more likely to be true, maybe that’s part of its magic. We do know that for over two hundred years people have been coming to kiss this stone to gain the gift of gab (they even built a railway line just to the castle) and that this stone is an important part of Irish history and current folklore. For many decades, people were held by their ankles in order to be able to kiss the stone. Thankfully, now there’s two handrails and an attendant to help you make a slight backbend to perform perhaps the most Irish custom of all (besides a nice pint of Guinness, of course).
‘Good to Know’ Tips
- Plan 3-6+ hours to see Blarney Castle and its huge complex with many gardens and buildings.
- During the high tourist season we recommend buying tickets early as Blarney castle is popular with locals and tourists. Even with pre booked tickets be prepared to wait to kiss the stone- maybe practice your soon to be new gift of gab and make a friend while waiting in line!
- Lines can be long for the Blarney stone but they move fast! Steps up the stone are narrow and unfortunately not handicap accessible.
- Blarney House is available to tour during the summer months. No pictures are allowed inside and tours must be guided. Book these tickets in advance!!
- Parking is paid and plentiful and there is a cafe onsite. Many find their food to be a bit higher priced so if you’re budget conscious, feel free to bring your own picnic
- While there is a gift shop onsite, as always, we recommend you do it a bit different*
Gifts & Memorabilia*
Ever find yourself struggling to cram in that book or souvenir from your trip into your already packed suitcase? We recommend buying the book or some cool memorabilia before or after your trip to save you space and have something to look forward to when your trip ends!
Here are a few of our favorite Blarney Castle picks!
Book: https://amzn.to/3e7x2fr
Puzzle: https://amzn.to/3qjjvDY
Blarney Stone T-shirts: https://etsy.me/30ecd9T