Like many travelers to Ireland, I assumed that 600-year old Blarney Castle was nothing more than a silly tourist trap and was not worth the visit. I almost neglected to go, but was on my way to nearby County Cork so I decided to give it a go. It’s a good thing I did, as it became the highlight of my trip to Ireland. Here’s 5 cool things about Blarney, and why it’s worth the visit:
1. The Property: The land around where Blarney Castle sits is truly spectacular. There are beautiful naturalized park and garden areas that offer a breathtaking opportunity for photographs. If you enjoy walking, there are numerous winding walking trails and an interesting arboretum to wander through. In the spring, flowers are popping with color wherever you look, and there’s quite the variety of interesting trees and plants.
2. Blarney House: During the summer months, you have the opportunity to check out this restored family house near the castle. It provides a peek into how a wealthy family in the 1870’s lived in Ireland. I must say, it’s quite the spread.
3. The Lake: Go early in the morning when the water is covered in mist, and the vision is pure Ireland.
4. The Castle Structure: Exploring the castle itself is a great treat. There are interesting corridors, towers and a dungeon. Most of the building is nothing more than ruined stone, so don’t expect to see some fancy digs with curtains and doors. This is a castle that suffered quite a bit of damage as it was attacked repeatedly over the centuries. Still, it is fascinating to imagine how people could have possibly lived here. The staircases are narrow, the doorways are low and the walls are several feet thick. Kids will love exploring the place.
5. Blarney Stone: We all seem to have a vision of what this stone is. I incorrectly assumed it was simply a rock in the ground that everyone bent over to kiss. I was quite surprised to find out that it is actually one of the stones that makes up the castle structure itself. The trick here, is actually getting to it. You need to climb the castle stairs all the way to the top. If you have a fear of heights, or if you have weak lungs, you may just have to sit this one out. But when you arrive at the top, you sit down within a small opening in the castle wall and you bend over backwards to kiss the rock that is tucked under one of the castle eaves. If you are standing above the area, you don’t actually see the stone–so you basically have to do this bit of acrobatics to see the little rock up close. Luckily, there’s a kind gentleman to help you with this unusual maneuver. Legend says that whoever kisses this stone will have the gift of eloquence — simply put, it gives you the gift of gab.