BLARNEY                                                                                                                                                                                        

The old village of Blarney dates from before AD 1200, when the original medieval Castle was built. Surrounding the castle are beautiful and quite extensive gardens. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as several natural rock formations which have been given fanciful names, such as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps.
Blarney House, a Scottish baronial-style mansion, was built on the grounds in 1874. It is also open to the public.
Blarney is also home to the famous Blarney Woolen Mills. Shoppers delight in spending hours browsing through traditional Irish clothes, arts and crafts.



Photographs clockwise from top left: Blarney Woolen Mills, View over Blarney Village, Blarney Village, Blarney Castle.

The Blarney Stone

By kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, it is claimed that one can receive the "Gift of the Gab" (eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion). The legend has its roots in the response of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth I to Cormac Teige McCarthy's attempt to blandish his way out of a difficult situation, during negotiations of the takeover of the Blarney Castle by the occupying English forces. Cormac himself was the King of Munster, living in the Blarney Castle around the 14th century. The stone itself is rumoured to have been created by a witch during the Middle Ages.