Visiting Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone
Tour Blarney House, Explore Rock Close, and See Beautiful Gardens
Feb 26, 2009
There's more than kissing the “Stone of Eloquence” to Blarney Castle however. The Castle grounds offer more than just the Stone, and the nearby attractions of Blarney Village, Cork City, and a host of other quaint towns and villages are well worth a side trip. By taking full advantage of everything the area has to offer, you'll get an authentic taste of Irish life.
Blarney Castle
The Blarney Stone: Kissing the stone is said to give the kisser the “gift of gab,” which the Irish have long been famous for. It's not for the faint of heart, however. To kiss the stone, the visitor must climb to the top of the castle and lean over the side of the rampart backwards, utilizing the iron hand-rails with the help of a bloke who holds you for additional safety.
- Rock Close: A leisurely stroll through the enchanted Rock Close is inspiring to many visitors. The area is landscaped around many natural elements and man-made features from the 18th century, such as the Witches Stairs and the Wishing Steps. Many believe the area has magical powers.
- Blarney House: Built in 1874 overlooking Blarney Lake, the house has been restored to its former glory and is one of the great houses of Ireland. The house, courtly and beneficent, rises from the Irish green and features a fine collection of early furniture, exquisite tapestries, family portraits, and works of fine art. Tours are conducted during the summer season.
- Gardens: The beautifully manicured lawns, shrubs and flower beds incline down to meet Blarney Lake amid ancient oak, lime, beach and gnarled walnut trees. There are many peaceful walking trails on the estate with the River Martin winding throughout.
Blarney Village
With some of the finest accommodations in Ireland, Blarney Village offers quality hotels, charming guest houses, and a camping park. For the ultimate Irish experience, country homes and farmhouses are available. Blarney Village also features excellent shopping opportunities.Sports and leisure centers abound,whether your interest is swimming, fishing, or a round of golf. There are many quiet country lanes for walking.
Cobh
Located on Great Island in Cork Harbor, Cobh was one of the largest demarcation points for Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine. Here, you can also see the memorial to victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery. The harbor is well worth visiting and is one of the largest in the world.
Cork
Ireland's third largest city is Cork, which has always been an important seaport. Here you will find all the amenities and site-seeing opportunities you would expect of any grand city, including cathedrals, shopping, fine dining, whale and dolphin watching, and the amazing Old English Market. Many choose to make Cork their base while visiting Blarney and the surrounding environs.
Crosshaven
Crosshaven is a quiet and peaceful village located at the mouth of Cork harbor. Enjoy beautiful walks with sweeping views of the sea and landscape. Crosshaven is known for it's pubs and offers many water activities. Angle for your catch of the day in the deep sea, fish a wreck, or simply hire a boat or yacht for a water excursion. For land lubbers, nearby Church bay, Myrtleville and Weaver's Point are popular places to soak up the sun.
Kinsale
Kinsale is one of the most picturesque, popular and fashionable resorts of the south-west coast of Ireland. Famous for its beautiful yachting, sea angling, dolphin and whale watching, gourmet restaurants, and many golf courses.
But that is just a few of the charming towns in the Blarney Castle area. You'll want to visit more of them. For information on every city in County Cork, please go here.
For more information on visiting Blarney Castle, please go here.
With a little planning, you can experience the charming towns and their people to the utmost and truly create a most special Irish vacation.
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