The Blarney Stone

Tourist Information

Thrifty Site Search

What trip to Ireland, particularly to County Cork, would ever be complete if you did not take the time to kiss the Blarney Stone? The stone is fixed in the castle of Blarney, and is a popular destination for many tourists who wish to kiss it. This action will reputedly bestow the kisser with the gift of a glib and eloquent tongue– the “gift of gab” as the locals call it.

Now a famous tourist attraction, it is not known for exactly how long this tradition has been practised, nor is it known exactly when it began. The origin of the use of the word ‘blarney’ however, as it is now used to refer to the ability to coax and beguile a listener with fancy words and persuasion, is directly tied to the castle of Blarney itself. When Queen Elizabeth I demanded that the master of the castle surrender the fort to her keeping to prove his loyalty, the wily man exercised his gift of gab to the full, presenting excuse after excuse –what the irritated Queen called “Blarney talk”– to the luckless official sent to claim the fort in the name of her Majesty.

Nowadays, you may not be looking to outlast the patience of a Queen but who wouldn’t want the ability to tell a great story, or talk his way out of a parking ticket? Whether or not the Blarney Stone works, it’s certainly worth a trip to the lovely old castle to see the sights, and the braver among you may want to try your luck with the stone itself. A guide will helpfully hang onto your ankles as you use two iron bars to lower yourself over the edge of the parapet, line yourself up with the stone and pucker up. Whatever you do, though, don’t look down!

If you wish to visit the Blarney Stone, one of the easiest way is to rent a car and drive to the Blarney Castle. Thrifty Car Rental have locations in both Cork City and Cork Airport which are ideally located.

For accommodation within easy driving distance of Blarney Castle, look no further than Glenlohane Country House which is an extremely private house with a unique accommodation offering. In terms of driving from the Blarney to Clenlohane Country House, the journey will take less than an hour.