Blarney Castle, Ireland. The Stone of Blarney is the most unhygienic landmark in Europe Return from Blarney Castle

Among the many attractions of Ireland, Blarney Castle undoubtedly deserves special attention - a dilapidated ancient castle near the village of the same name, just 8-10 km northwest of the city of Cork. Today it is perhaps one of County Cork's most popular tourist destinations.

Historians believe that the first castle-fortress on these lands existed back in the 10th century. It was built from wood and it is not surprising that not a trace remains of the original structure to this day. The more reliable stone fortress that replaced it at the beginning of the 13th century was destroyed to its foundations. The castle, as we see it today, was built in 1446 by order of King Dermot McCarthy of Munster.

During its turbulent and long history, Blarney Castle has survived several sieges and changed its owners several times. At the end of the 17th century, the castle was acquired by the Governor of Cork, Sir James Jeffers, whose descendants still own it today.

The castle became widely known largely thanks to the famous Stone of Eloquence (or Blarney Stone), which has long been the subject of legends. It is a block of so-called “white stone” (also known as Carboniferous limestone) and is built into the upper part of the castle wall. According to legend, anyone who kisses this stone (and a certain ritual must be followed) will forever gain the gift of eloquence. Whether this is true or fiction, of course, is unknown, but there are always more than enough people willing.

However, even if you are not eager to acquire the gift of eloquence, it is definitely worth climbing to the top of the fortress walls in order to enjoy excellent panoramic views. You will also get a lot of pleasure just walking through the picturesque surroundings of the castle, where you can admire the luxurious gardens that were laid out at the beginning of the 18th century. Also worth a visit is the so-called Blarney House, located opposite the old castle and open to the public - a magnificent mansion in the Scottish baronial style, built in 1874.

Every day, thousands or even tens of thousands of people from all over the world come to Blarney Castle, located near the Irish city of Cork. And all in order to kiss the famous Stone of Speech – Europe's most unhygienic attraction.

Different people love stones in different ways. A photographer, for example, travels all over America in search of huge boulders carried by a retreating glacier hundreds of kilometers from the mountain ranges where they formed. And millions of people from around the world can boast that they have kissed the Blarney Stone, also known as the Stone of Blarney.

It is traditionally believed that this object is part of the Stone of Scone - one of the symbols of Scotland, on which, since ancient times, the monarchs of this country, and subsequently of Great Britain, were crowned. King Robert the Bruce allegedly donated part of the historical block to the Irish feudal lord Cormac McCarthy for his assistance in the war against the British.

This stone began to be associated with the acquisition of eloquence in the sixteenth century, when Queen Elizabeth of England sent her confidant to Blarney to negotiate with the owner the conditions for the transfer of the stronghold to the rule of the British crown. However, for a long time, the envoy was unable to start a corresponding conversation with the local feudal lord - he always found some excuses. This is how a legend emerged that has survived to this day.

Thanks to her, Blarney Castle is the most visited in all of Ireland. Thousands of people go there to stand in a huge line for the opportunity to kiss the Stone of Speech and receive the corresponding gift. This is despite the fact that travel website Tripster declared the site the most unhygienic attraction in Europe in 2009.

The famous writer Chuck Palahniuk also scoffs at this. In the novel “Fight Club,” the main character says that he committed his first act of vandalism at Blarney Castle, urinating on the Stone of Blarney.

Getting ready for the Albion cruise and learning that we would have a stop in Cork, I began to look for what could be seen nearby? And almost everyone unanimously declared that it was definitely worth going to Blarney Castle. And when I read that even my beloved Henry Morton went to Blarney, I decided: I have to go!

What is this stone that needs to be kissed? The Blarney Stone has been called the most unhygienic landmark in Europe! But of course I was more attracted by the opportunity to see the castle itself and the surrounding gardens and attractions. Taking with us a medieval dress, we went to explore one of the most famous castles in Ireland.

There are certain things that no one except tourists will do in historical cities. Local residents look at them in this case as if they are crazy. In Cork you must kiss the Blarney Stone and listen to the Shandon Bells.

How to get to Blarney Castle

The easiest way to get to the castle is from the Irish city of Cork. Bus 215 runs from Cork Bus Station to the castle. Tickets can be bought from the machine at the bus station. You can also pick up a brochure with the schedule there. Transportation is provided by Bus Eireann.

The bus route passes through the village of Blarney, but this is not the final stop. But you won’t miss it, almost all the tourists get out there and the driver additionally announces it. From the stop to the castle it is literally a 5-minute walk. The bus heading towards Blarney was double-decker with Wi-Fi and USB sockets, but the bus back was normal.

A one-way ticket costs 2.7 euros per person. We bought tickets there, and already bought return tickets to Blarney right on the bus. The ride is not far - 8 km, but along the way the bus makes stops in the surrounding villages.

The road to Blarney is very picturesque. Along the way you come across cute rural cottages with flowering front gardens.

And horses with foals often graze along the road.

Blarney attractions map

In addition to the castle itself, there are many other interesting objects in Blarney.

Blarney village, Ireland

Of course, for most tourists the main goal is to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone. But the village itself deserves attention! The village of Blarney reflects the Tudor style in its architecture. Its main attraction, apart from the castle, is the village square.

Shopping is another pleasure in Blarney village, where there are many excellent shopping options, including the world famous Blarney Woolen Mills, founded in 1824, it has become one of the largest craft stores in Ireland and is renowned for its quality products. Blarney in the old days was a place where flax, paper and much more were produced.

Where to stay in Blarney

Blarney has many excellent accommodation options such as hotels, guest houses, caravanning and camping parks, village and farmhouses. Blarney offers accommodation to suit every taste and budget. For example, the Blarney Castle Hotel is located very close to the castle.

Hotel next to the Blarney Woolen Mills store - Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel:

Blarney is a great stop on your trip to Ireland.

Blarney Castle

Built almost six hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest leaders, Cormac McCarthy, Blarney Castle has been attracting attention for many years. Every year more than 200,000 people visit Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle website.

The castle is open every day, all year round. Opening hours: in November-February - from 9 to 17, in March-April and October - from 9 to 18, in May and September - from 9 to 18.30, in June-August - from 9 to 19. Ticket price: 18 euros per adult, per child 8 euros.

We planned very little time for visiting the castle (literally an hour), because our ship was delayed from landing in the port of Cobh for three hours due to fog and we walked around Cork for a long time. In fact, you need at least a couple of hours to enjoy the area around the castle. She is very big and beautiful. Here you can have a picnic and sit at the tables, watching the sheep behind the fence. Swing on a swing.

But, unfortunately, we had no time to relax, and we went to the castle. The gardens around the castle are very well maintained, and in May daffodils and other flowers were blooming everywhere.

Who built this famous castle?

History of Blarney Castle

You can read about the history of Blarney Castle in Henry Morton's book:

In the middle of a beautiful forest, the ruins of Blarney Castle rise, rooks scream above them, the stones are overgrown with moss, and there is green slime in the dungeons. Blarney is the third castle built on this site. The first was a wooden structure built in ancient times by Dermot MacCarthy, King of South Munster. The second castle was built around 1200, and the current one, which exists as ruins, was built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was the strongest castle in this part of Ireland. Representatives of the younger branch of the McCarthys lived in it - the Lords Maskery, the Barons of Blarney and the Earls of Clancarty.
The word "Blarney" is rumored to have entered the language when Elizabeth ordered Dermot McCarthy to surrender the castle as proof of his loyalty to the Queen. He said he would be happy to do it, but every time something happened at the last moment and the delivery was delayed. His apologies became so frequent and so flowery that Lord George Carew, who demanded the surrender of the castle on behalf of the queen, became the butt of jokes among the courtiers.
Queen Elizabeth allegedly said, after hearing McCarthy's apology again: “It's all blarney! He won't do what he promises."
Whether it was true or not, the term “blarney” entered the English language and means false flattering speech.

Henry Morton. Walking around the sacred island.

Almost two centuries later in the history of Blarney there was a real siege. During the Irish Confederate Wars in 1646, the fortress was captured. But, after administrative changes, the castle returned to the possession of the McCarthy family, who then became earls rather than lords.

However, this was not for long; during the War of the Two Kings, the fourth Earl of Clancarty took the wrong side, was captured and lost all his possessions. Blarney changed hands several times: first it was bought by the Chief Justice of Ireland, and then sold to the Governor of Cork, James Jeffrey. The Geoffrey family (along with another aristocratic Colthurst family) still own these lands today.

Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle

This is the main attraction of the castle.

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary celebrities and screen legends have joined millions of pilgrims ascending the steps to kiss Blarney Stone and receive the gift of eloquence.

It is located at the very top of the castle, at an altitude of 150 feet from the ground and you have to get there by a spiral staircase.

In the old days, people who kissed the Blarney Stone were hung by their heels from the edge of the parapet. One day the pilgrim fell and fell down. Since then, people have approached the stone in a different way.
You sit down with your back to the abyss. The guide sits on your feet, holds your feet, asks you to lean back and grab the iron handrails. After that, you spread out over the abyss, preparing to meet eternity. Wriggling, you lower yourself (at the same time closing your eyes to remove the distant inverted landscape from your field of vision) and reach the base of the stone. Having done your job, you rise above the abyss and shout: “Are you sure you can hold me?” Finally sit down and say: “That’s it, I did it!”
Where did this custom come from?
No one knows. The answer to this question, in a moment of inspiration, can be composed by a caretaker with knowledge of psychology. In the eighteenth century, no one kissed the Blarney Stone.
I think a lot of Blarney stones have been around here since then. There is still debate about where the original stone was located. Some say that he stood twenty feet from the top of the tower, on the south side, and in the stone was carved the inscription: “Cormac McCarthy fortis mi fieri fecit. A.D. 1446." Others say that there is a shamrock in the real stone, and few know about the place where that stone is located. It's not nice to hear all this after you've accomplished your feat!
Descending the spiral staircase, you ask the guide: “What will the Blarney stone do for me?”
With the bored look of a man tired of answering the same question, the guide pronounces the words of Father Prout:

There is a stone there;
If you kiss him -
Will please you for nothing:
You will become eloquent
More than the Evil One,
And a noble lady
Already trembling in anticipation.

You walk away thoughtfully, reassuring yourself with the thought that this is all just blarney!

Henry Morton. Walking around the sacred island.

I couldn’t overcome my disgust and kiss the stone. But why do you need to kiss this stone, and even risk your life?

Kissing the Blarney Stone is difficult and not particularly pleasant. It is unclear why generations of travelers do this, and even more unclear why this particular stone, rising 150 feet above the ground, has gained worldwide fame.
The dictionary explains that the verb “blarney” means “to flatter, to please with eloquent words, to lull with pleasant conversation.” When the hotel elevator operator found out that I had kissed the Blarney stone, he said with a smile:
- Oh, sir, now all the young women will be yours.
According to cynical local belief, the Blarney Stone gives a person the gift of eloquence that no woman can resist. I can not believe this. As a humble student of human nature, I have noticed that women enjoy false assurances and sometimes even demand them, although they clearly see that they stick out like rocks in the sea from the speech of men. Yet the influence of flattery on gender relations is a fruitful and unexplored subject.

Henry Morton. Walking around the sacred island.

Beneath the hill on which Blarney Castle stands lies a network of caves. Apparently, they appeared when stone was being mined for construction, and then they were adapted as secret passages through which one could leave the besieged fortress. Also, some of the branches served as prison cells.

In the end, we limited ourselves to an internal inspection of the castle and went to take pictures, it was not for nothing that I changed into a medieval dress!

Rock Close Park

A fabulous shaded area in the gardens of Blarney Castle, called Rock Close, where you can see the Druids' circle, kitchen and witches' stone, dolmens and caves.

Making your way along the paths, it seems that you are about to see an elf, leprechaun or other representative of the “wonderful people”.

Wishing Steps may help you realize your dream.

Blarney Castle Gardens

From the top of the castle you can enjoy stunning views of over 60 acres of castle park, which includes gardens, walkways, arboretums and waterways. You can stand on the bridge across the river.

The estate boasts an impressive variety of wildlife. Blarney Castle and Gardens is the first estate in Ireland to receive the prestigious Wilderness designation from the European Landowners Organization. Here you can meet a sculpture of a heron and immediately see a real bird.

Look into a lonely tower.

And admire the sky once inside this tower.

In spring, the gardens are decorated with blooming rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias.

In each season of the year, the gardens change their color scheme.

Pedestrian paths pass through the estate forests, along the river and around the lake. You can easily find yourself alone in a secluded forest or on the shore of a lake, with only swans for company.

In the garden you can visit The Stable Yard Café, located in an ancient courtyard, a short walk from Blarney Castle.

This quaint cafe offers a wide selection of beautiful cakes, fresh scones and other delicious treats.

At the cafe's bar you can get juices, sandwiches, ice cream and even honey from local beekeepers.

Here you can also see the collection of carriages and carts.

The gardens have different natural corners - unusual trees, jungles, waterfalls, rose arbors and much more.

There is also a garden of poisonous plants!

It contains a collection of poisonous plants from around the world, including Wolfsbane, Mandrake, Ricin, Opium and Cannabis. Many of them come with information about their toxicity and traditional and modern uses. A large number of plants that we now know to be toxic were once widely used as medicinal herbs for all types of ailments.

As they used to say: “It will either kill you or cure you!”

Blarney House

In addition to the medieval castle, you can see Blarney House. It was built in the early 18th century by St James John Jeffery. It was a Gothic house surrounded by a garden. In 1820, the house was partially destroyed by fire. In 1874 the family decided to build a new house in the Scottish baronial style, to the south of the old building. It has remained the family home to this day. It can only be visited in April-May on Friday and Saturday.

Return from Blarney Castle

Our journey back to the ship was extremely dramatic and exciting. For this day we bought tickets for the evening show of Cirque Du Soleil on. To catch the show, we had to take a bus to Cork, then walk to the station and take the train to Cobh, where our ship was docked. We arrived at the stop early, I didn’t even have time to change into my medieval dress, and we saw a crowd of people waiting for the bus. “We’ll break through!” we decided. The hour came, but the bus still didn’t show up. Time passed, the bus was late, our nerves gave way. Apparently the fairytale castle realized that we did not fully enjoy it and decided to leave us in Ireland! But finally, the bus arrives an hour late. And what do we see? Instead of a two-story giant, a small bus already packed with people is approaching the stop. The queue rushes towards the bus. But where do polite Europeans care about people seasoned in battles with pensioners storming gardening buses? We got in.

On the bus, a polite Irishman even gave up his seat for me. Approaching Cork, we thought that it would be a long walk from the bus station to catch the train and decided to get off early. They immediately began to find out from the locals where it would be better for us to get off, closer to the train station. And when the bus got as close as possible to him, they jumped out and ran to the station. A girl running like a witch with flowing hair in medieval clothes and sneakers attracted attention. At the station we rushed headlong through the turnstile onto the platform, the station employees even began to reassure us: “You’re on time, the train is still standing!” We really made it. But once again we regretted that we had so little time for the gardens of Blarney Castle. You could come here for the whole day!

Walls that remember history, surrounded by greenery - Blarney Castle in Ireland. Everything here is imbued with a historical spirit. Mystical places, castle walls, the stone of eloquence, shrouded in legends. And there is a lot of greenery around, among which you can relax calmly after all the impressions and you can even have a small picnic.

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The Irish province of Munster includes the counties of Kerry, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tippery and Waterford.

The chronology of the places of interest began in the 10th century. The Castle we see today was built in County Cork. This is Blarney Castle. In a state of ruins, it still attracts tourists.

Majestic even now, during its prosperity, Blarney Castle was a powerful building with solid walls, five floors high. Under the castle to this day there is a whole network of underground caves and passages through which one could retreat in case of retreat.

In the 17th century, Lord Broghill nevertheless won a victory as a result of the siege, but it turned out that all this was in vain. The inhabitants left through the Badger Caves along with valuables.

The history of the castle remembers that Elizabeth I was eager to acquire this castle for herself. To do this, her trusted person visited the castle several times. The owner of the castle was in no hurry to part with his home, built with great love. But he also had no desire to spoil relations with the dominant person.

In order to get out of the situation, Dermot McCarthy, the owner of the castle, each time organized a magnificent reception in honor of the distinguished guest. Or he invited him to hunt, which he was a big fan of. In general, he delayed the matter. When the queen demanded a report from her envoy, she received a long letter about nothing with a bunch of flattering statements in her honor. It was then that the verb to blarney appeared in English - to flatter. In modern youth language this is called - blah, blah, blah.

Main attraction

The fact that will finally convince you to come here is the Blarney stone, which, according to legend, bestows the art of eloquence. Despite skeptical statements about this artifact, for many years there has been a queue of people wishing to merge with the Blarney Stone in a kiss, and after that gain the gift of eloquence.

There are many legends surrounding this stone. According to one of them, this is a stone given to the owner of the castle by a witch or sorceress so that he would gain the gift of eloquence and defend his house in court.

According to another, it went to Demort McCarthy's ancestor as a token of gratitude for his help in the battle. This is part of the Scone Stone on which English and Scottish kings are crowned.

The daughter of Pharaoh Ramses II wandered for a hundred years in search of the paradise land. She found it in Northern Ireland. But all this time she did not part with a piece of sandstone. It served as a pillow for the biblical Jacob when he had a dream about angels who climbed the stairs leading to heaven. Since then, this famous stone has been kept in Scotland at Scone Abbey, hence its name.

The Stone of Speech got its name after the 16th century, when one of McCarthy's descendants became famous for his beautiful speeches.

For someone who dares to kiss, it will not be very easy. First, you need to climb to the top of the castle, which is no less than five floors. Then, you need to bend over and hold the handrails to kiss the stone. Previously, this was much more difficult and dangerous to do.

Let's continue our walk

But even if you are not enthusiastic about the idea of ​​acrobatic sketches, it is still worth climbing the castle. From here you have a stunning view of the entire park. Wherever the eye can see, there is well-groomed greenery of different shades.

The gardens of Blarney Castle combine natural and man-made sites. It seems that this particular corner was created according to the project. And then an unexpectedly pleasant surprise intervenes in the form of a stream, which, in general, should not exist. But it is so fascinating that you can wander here forever. It is not prohibited to arrange rest stops and small picnics.

There are still many mysterious stories hovering over this place. In the gardens that surround the castle there is a magical place called Rock Close, where a pagan altar, the Druid's Circle and the Witches' Kitchen still exist. Everything is imbued with mysticism and unearthly otherworldly forces.

The rock, overgrown with greenery, splits into a passage with slippery steps. This place is called the “Witches Staircase”. The legend says that a wish will come true. To do this, you need to walk up the steps with your eyes closed. After all, only here in the greenery are little elves circling above you, who are not visible, but your imagination completes their cheerful faces.

Opposite the old castle is a beautiful mansion in the Scottish baronial style, Blarney House, more reminiscent of a setting for a fairy tale than a residential building. It can only be visited in April-May on Friday and Saturday.

Best time to visit

The weather in County Cork, where Blarney Castle is located, as throughout Ireland, is unstable even in summer. Of course, the best time to visit is from June to August. At this time it rarely rains and the temperature is quite comfortable, although the evenings are still cool.

Entrance to the park is free. Visiting the castle is possible from May to September from 9-00 to 17.30, and in winter from 9-00 to sunset, except on December 24 and 25. These days the castle is closed to visitors.

This pleasure costs 10 euros for adults, 3.5 euros for children from 8 to 14 years old.

How to get there on your own

The castle with its attractions is located in the village of Blarney, literally 8 km from the city of Cork.

Bus number 215 departs from the city's Merchants Quay bus station. You need to get off at the Blarney Village stop.

Cork can be reached by air and water. This city has an airport and a port. You can get there from St. Petersburg by ferry. For those who are afraid of flying, this is an excellent option, and also quite economical. A minute's walk from the port there is a small railway station, from which a train leaves every half hour to the city. Travel time is 25 minutes among continuous greenery, ancient castles and sheep grazing everywhere.

The famous Blarney Castle was built in 1446 and has become one of Ireland's most popular attractions over the years. Many travelers believe that a trip to Blarney is not to be missed - it is an integral symbol of Ireland and Irish heritage.

The structure is located in the village of Blarney, approximately 8 km north-west of the city of Cork in the southern part. This was the third structure built on this site. At first, in the 10th century, there was a wooden building here, a stone castle replaced it in 1210. This building was destroyed due to problems with the foundation and, in the end, in 1446, Dermot McCarthy built the current walls of Blarney.

Myths and facts

The Blarney Stone is without doubt the castle's most famous feature. The Legendary Stone, also called the Stone of Speech, is located at the top of the tower. Legend has it that Cormac MacCarthy, the king of Munster who occupied the castle at the time, sent 4,000 of his subjects to help Robert the Bruce during the Battle of Bannockburn. According to legend, after the victory, Robert the Bruce, in gratitude, gave Cormac half of the Stone of Scone, on which the kings of Scotland were crowned in ancient times. The stone was built into the castle wall. According to legend, whoever kisses this stone will forever gain the gift of eloquence.

The history of Blarney Castle also contains stories about Queen Elizabeth, who passionately wanted to take possession of the building, but in response she received only long letters full of flattering ornate sayings. They say that it was she who then introduced the word “blarney” into the English language - flattery, sweet speech.

What to see

In addition to the fabulous medieval castle, you can see Blarney House. It was built in the early 18th century by St James John Jeffery. This is a Gothic house surrounded by a garden, located opposite. In 1820, the house was partially destroyed by fire. In 1874 the family decided to build a new house in the Scottish baronial style, to the south of the old building. It has remained the family home to this day.

The castle is open to the public every day except Christmas Day. There are separate rooms for children, students, adults and families. Oddly enough, newlyweds who want to take wedding photos at the castle are accepted free of charge. There are two gift shops, ATMs and refreshments.

When traveling around Ireland, Blarney should be at the top of any traveler's itinerary. An intriguing, slightly creepy, but beautiful castle with fascinating legends, tourists leave with the feeling that they have already touched (even kissed) a genuine part of Irish history. If you want to delve even deeper into Irish lore, visit Dublin. 14 km from it there is a powerful fortification, unlike any other structure in Ireland -.

Blarney Castle is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00 in summer; until 18.30 on weekdays and until 17.30 on Sundays in winter.
Cost: 10 €, children 8-14 years old - 3.50 €.
How to get there: located in the village of Blarney, 8 km from Cork city. From Cork bus station to Merchants Quay there is bus number 215, get off at the Blarney Village stop. Cork can be reached by plane, train or bus from all major cities in Ireland.
Official site: