Kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland
Mystery and Legend Surrounds Blarney Castle's Stone
Apr 1, 2009
Kissing the Blarney Stone, a block of bluestone that is actually called the Stone of Eloquence, is a bit of an adventure. Accessing it in Blarney Castle involves climbing a set of winding and narrow (very narrow in some sections) stairs up the nearly 90 feet of castle. Once at the top of the castle, visitors walk along the castle’s edge to the stone, set into the wall across a bit of a gap.
To kiss the stone, the custom is to do it so the kisser’s head is upside down. This is achieved with help from a gentleman at the stone.
The kisser sits with his or her back facing the stone. He or she is then lies back, and grabs hold of he bars on each side of the stone for support. The gentleman then takes secure hold of the kisser, and helps the person slide closer to the stone, and over the gap. The kisser should then be set to smooch the stone. Then the gentleman helps the kisser back over the gap. Done!
Getting back down the castle requires going down narrow and windy stairs, as well. Individuals who are claustrophobic or quite wide in girth may want to think twice about attempting to climb the stairs in the first place, for their own well being.
The History of the Blarney Stone and Blarney Castle
The King of Munster, Cormac MacCarthy built Blarney Castle nearly 600 years ago. It’s a fairly simple stone structure, located about 8 kilometres northwest of the city of Cork in southern Ireland.
The origins of the Blarney Stone and its provision of the “gift of gab” are cloudy. One story goes that the Scots handed over a portion of the stone in gratitude, after MacCarthy sent 5,000 troops to help Robert the Bruce defeat the English at Bannockburn in 1314. Another tale says a witch, who was saved from drowning, revealed the stone’s power to the MacCarthys. In 1446, the stone was set into the castle.
More than 300,000 people, from ordinary folks to world leaders to entertainers, come to kiss the stone annually, Blarney Castle figures show. Visitors may hear tales that advise against kissing the stone, or just turn visitors off from doing so, because hooligans go up there at night to urinate on the stone.
This is highly unlikely. The castle grounds are not easily accessible (visitors have to go through a turnstile), and climbing the castle stairs in the dark, at nighttime, even with a flashlight, would be a tough feat. All in all, it would be an awful lot of trouble to go through. Also, because people are putting their lips on the stone, it is “cleaned” daily, according to one Contiki tour guide.
How to Get to Blarney Castle by Road
Blarney Castle is in Blarney Village. From Cork city centre, drivers should follow the signs for Limerick (the N20) and exit left, where it’s signposted Blarney.
To drive from Dublin, drivers should take the N8 motorway and follow the signs to Cork, and then onto Blarney. Trains regularly leave for Cork and buses travel there, as well. Admission to Blarney Castle is 10 euro for adults, and eight euro for students and seniors.
The Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle is shrouded in a somewhat mysterious past, but its “power” of bestowing eloquence on those who kiss it is clear. Thousands of visitors come to the castle every year, which is surrounded by grounds worth a separate visit.
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