Blarney Castle In County Cork

Blarney Castle is a world famous tourist attraction and is a must-see if visiting the South West of Ireland. Originally a timber hunting lodge, which was built in the 10th century, it has been replaced by a stone castle in 1210. The way Blarney Castle is seen today was the work of Dermot Mc Carthy who was the king of Munster in 1446. It remained to the Mc Carthy family until Oliver Cromwell arrived in 1646. The Battle of the Boyne seen all Irish chiefs stripped of their authority, and so once again Mc Carthy left the castle. It now belongs to the owners of the Blarney Castle trustee estate.

Kissing The Blarney Stone

Blarney Castle is probably most famous for the ‘Blarney Stone’, which is placed up on high battlements. The stone is thought to have come from Scotland previously named the Stone of Scone. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone as it was thought to have magical powers. Legend has it that one who kisses the stone will receive the gift of gab (Eloquence or flattery), therefore thousands of tourists every year flock to this site to try their luck!

Another attraction of this medieval castle is The Rock Close. The Rock Close is laid out on a early Druid’s site with remains of huge boulders, a megalithic tomb, a sacrificial alter, and witches kitchen and not to mention a collection of breathtaking trees and plants including bamboo, weeping willows covering a stream which has bridge access to the other side.

All around Blarney castle itself is the magnificent arboretum, woodland and gardens, which can be explored by anyone to see the colorful arrays of copper beeches, ornamental pear trees, southern beech and great oaks. In the arboretum one will find Belgian beds, which has planted hybrid azaleas and a western red cedar tree from British Columbia.

Blarney House is situated 200m south of the castle and is open to the public in summer months only. Surrounding the house is beautiful shrubs, trees and flowerbeds with extensive lawns that gently slope towards a splendid lake.
A visit to the Blarney Castle will be enjoyed by everyone young or old, some famous names to have visited would be Billy Connolly, Laurel and Hardy and Winston Churchill they have all been quiet successful, however whether it was the kissing the Blarney Stone that made them successful is up to you to decide!