Blarney Castle
* http://www.blarneycastle.ie * Blarney, Ireland * 021-438 5252 *
The Blarney Castle and its estate is an amazing magical playground of myths and legends, faeries, and fantastical beliefs. Even the grounds in its gardens have their attractions and history, as small caves and structures in the Rock Close garden may have neolithic habitation possibilities, potentially the home to a mythical witch that was trapped in a rock having servitude to grant wishes for those walking up and down the Wishing Steps as well as a Druid’s cave and ceremonial circle. the Martin River that runs through the estate are believed to be possessed by ghosts of salmons leaping for ghosts of flies. Enchanted cows walk from the depths of the lake to graze on the meadows below the castle. There is also a glade where Faeries are believed to be at play. The famous castle itself was built in 1446 and has ever since become one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations and is located in Blarney Village, just 8 kilometers from Cork City in Southern Ireland. Of course its biggest draw is the magical kissing of the Blarney Stone that will endow the kisser with the gift of gab. The current castle is the third structure to be built on site – as the first structure in the 10th century was a wooden one, then replaced by stone in 1210 C.E. and torn down because of foundation problems replaced with the medieval Blarney Castle built by Dermot McCarthy in 1446. The castle was then occupied by Cormac McCarthy, the King of Munster, who sent 4,000 men to hold Robert the Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn – and it was there that he received half of the stone of Scone from Robert the Bruce in gratitude and was then incorporated into the Castle as the “Blarney Stone“. Near the Castle is the Georgian Gothic styled Blarney House built at the beginning of the 18th century by St. James St. John Jefferyes. This house was destroyed by fire in 1820, and rebuilt in Scottish baronial style in 1874 and is still occupied by the family lineage. The castle is open daily except Christmas Day and Eve. Adults are €10.00; Child €3.50; Student/OAP €8.00; Family €23.50; and newly weds wanting pictures at the Castle are admitted free. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
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Walking to Blarney Castle
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* Legend of the Blarney Stone
* Poison Garden
* Rock Close
* Badger Cave
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Blarney Castle continued … climbing down the tower:
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