Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle

The castle of the famous stone

A few miles from the city of Cork, in the south of Ireland, stands a tall grey tower wrapped in green woods and gardens: Blarney Castle. It is one of the most visited castles in all of Ireland — not because of a great battle or a famous king, but because of a single block of stone set high in its battlements. This is the legendary Blarney Stone, which, the story goes, gives the "gift of the gab" — the power of clever, charming speech — to anyone who kisses it.

A mighty tower house

The castle we see today was built in 1446 by Cormac MacCarthy, a powerful lord of the Muskerry region. It is a fine example of an Irish tower house — a tall, narrow stone castle, several storeys high, built for a chieftain and his family to live in safely. Its thick walls, winding stairs and battlemented top made it both a home and a stronghold.

For centuries the MacCarthys ruled their lands from Blarney, and the castle changed hands several times in Ireland's troubled wars before passing to new owners.

Kissing the Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is set in the wall just below the battlements, near the very top of the castle. To kiss it, visitors must lie on their back, hold onto an iron rail, and lean their head backwards over a gap — with a long drop below (though safety bars now make it safe). It is a slightly scary but much-loved tradition, and people queue up from all over the world to do it.

Where did the legend come from? No one is quite sure. One story says the word "blarney" — meaning smooth, flattering talk — began with an earlier MacCarthy lord who kept charming Queen Elizabeth I's messengers with fine words while never quite doing what he was told, until the frustrated queen cried "Blarney!" Whatever the truth, the castle has given a word to the English language.

Beautiful gardens

Blarney is famous for more than its stone. The castle sits in lovely grounds full of surprises, including a mysterious "Poison Garden" of dangerous plants (safely fenced), a Rock Close with ancient-looking stones and a "Witch's Kitchen", and gentle riverside walks. Families can spend a whole day exploring the gardens as well as the castle.

A castle through the ages

Although Blarney is now best known as a fun and famous tourist spot, it has a real and ancient history as the seat of a great Irish family. Its tower has stood for nearly six hundred years, watching over the green countryside of County Cork, and its stone has been kissed by millions, from ordinary visitors to famous writers, leaders and film stars.

Visiting today

Visitors can climb the winding stairs to the top of the tower, kiss the Blarney Stone if they dare, and enjoy the view over the woods and gardens far below. The grounds, with their poison garden, rock features and riverside paths, make Blarney a delight for all ages. Famous, fun and steeped in legend, Blarney Castle is one of the most beloved castles in Ireland — and the only one that might just make you a better talker.