Blarney Castle Description
The present Blarney Castle is the third castle to be
builton the site. The first, in the 10th century, was wooden.About 1210, this was replaced by a
stone structure. In 1446, another stone structure was built by Cormac MacCarthy giving today's
castle.
Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s most visited site.
Located near Cork, it is easily reachable and it is visited by hundreds of thousands of people
every year. But it isn’t the castle that attracts so many visitors yearly, but the Blarney
Stone which is said it gives the gift of words to anyone who kisses it.
The Blarney Castle currently stands in ruins and as a stand-alone
objective it is not worthwhile visiting.
Blarney Stone - The Stone of
Eloquence
The Blarney Stone is probably the most famous tourist
attraction in Ireland. It is of ancient history and many fables have sprung up as one might
expect of such a famous artifact.
The most common fable is that if you go to Blarney Castle and climb
the narrow ancient castle stairs and lean backwards--and downwards--out of the battlements
holding onto iron bars set in the castle wall, you will be able to kiss the Stone and become
endowed with the "gift of Blarney".
The stone was actually built right into the walls of Blarney Castle in
the 15th century by Cormac Macarthy, one of Ireland's greatest warriors. Because of its
location as part of the castle walls, tourists are forced to assume the awkward position to
reach it.
Many legends surround the origin of the stone. Some stories tell of
the stone being brought to Ireland during the crusades and that it may have Biblical
connections. Another story tells of a witch who revealed the secret powers of the stone to the
castle owners after they had saved her life.
The stone itself is said to grant the power to persuade with the gift
of gab.
Of course, it is a matter of opinion whether the stone helps make one
more eloquent when it is kissed, but the names of many of the stone's visitors, and their
abilities to accomplish great things, makes an impressive list.
Later, Winston Churchill was a visitor and was able to convince both
his countrymen and the world that they could standup to and defeat Adolf Hitler in
WWII.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, an American of Irish decent, also kissed the
landmark and later convinced enough people to vote for him, making him the first Roman Catholic
president in the history of the United States.
Nelly Bly, an early female journalist, gained fame by traveling around
the world. One of her first stops was at the Blarney Stone. As the story goes, she was able to
talk her way out of almost all situations during the rest of her trip.
Finally, an American businessman named Milton Hershey stopped by the
stone during a trip to Europe. He went on to convince the world that his little chocolate
confections called "kisses" were worth buying by the millions.
Blarney Castle Visitor
Info
Opening Times:
The Blarney Castle is open all
year around as it follows:
Monday to
Saturday:
In May: 9.00 -18,30
Jun to Aug: 9.00 -19,00
In Sept: 9,00 -18,30
Oct to Apr: 9.00 am to sundown
Sundays:
Summer: 9,00 - 17,30
Winter: 9,00 - to sundown
Ticket
Info:
A ticket will cost: 12 € adults,
10 €
Students and Seniors, 5
€
Children (8-14 years, 30
€
Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2
Children)
Contact details:
Tel: 00 353 21 438 5252
Email: info@blarneycastle.ie
Official page: blarneycastle.ie
Blarney Castle Map&Location
Blarney Castle Address: Blarney, Cork, Ireland.
Geographic Coordinates: 51.92903376346703, -8.57109010219574
Get help with directions using the map provided bellow:
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