Name: Blarney Castle & Gardens
Address: Blarney, Cork, Ireland
Telephone: (021) 438 5252
Rating: 4.7

Ruined castle housing the famed Blarney Stone, a kiss of which is said to grant the gift of the gab.

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Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Blarney Castle sits on a sprawling 1,500-acre estate, offering visitors ample space to explore gardens, woodlands, and scenic views.

Expansive Grounds

While Blarney Castle is famous, it's not the oldest in Ireland. That honor goes to Kilbrittain Castle, dating back to 1035, located about an hour south.

Ancient Roots

Kissing the Blarney Stone, perched high atop the castle, is said to bestow the gift of eloquence, or the 'gift of the gab,' according to legend.

The Blarney Stone

Blarney Castle attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from around the globe, making it one of Ireland's most popular attractions.

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Blarney Castle & Gardens

Blarney Castle, a partial ruin near Cork, owes its fame not to architectural grandeur, but to a single stone embedded high in its battlements: the Blarney Stone. Kissing it, while held precariously by an assistant, is said to bestow the gift of persuasive eloquence, or "blarney." The current castle, a replacement built in 1446 by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, stands on the site of earlier fortifications. Less known than the stone itself are the extensive Blarney Gardens, a diverse landscape encompassing everything from a poisonous garden featuring plants like wolfsbane and mandrake, to serene water gardens and ancient trees. The Rock Close, a mystical area with standing stones and a dolmen, predates the castle itself and hints at a far older, perhaps pagan, significance to the site. The Badger Cave, a natural rock formation within the gardens, adds another layer of intrigue to this historical location.

Introduction

Blarney Castle is the home of the Blarney Stone, also known as the Stone of Eloquence. Kissing the Blarney Stone is said to bestow the kisser with the gift of the gab, or great eloquence and skill at flattery. The word "blarney" itself has come to mean clever, flattering, or coaxing talk. The stone is a block of Carboniferous limestone set into the battlements of Blarney Castle. It was set into a tower of the castle in 1446.

Legends about the stone's origin emerged, each as plausible as the next. One legend says that Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, appealed to the goddess Clíodhna for assistance in a lawsuit. She told him to kiss the first stone he found in the morning, and he won his case with great eloquence. Another legend says that the stone was given to Cormac MacCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn, and that it was part of the Stone of Scone. Still another legend tells of Cormac McTaidhg Láidir MacCarthy, who rescued an old woman from drowning in a river. She turned out to be a witch, and told him of a stone in the castle with magic properties, and that he could benefit by kissing it.

To kiss the Blarney Stone, you have to dangle yourself over a gaping hole in the castle’s uppermost floor. The man assisting grabs two fist-fulls of your clothes and shoves you upside down and close enough to kiss the stone. For over 200 years, millions of people have kissed the Blarney Stone and gained the gift of eloquence.

Stone of Eloquence

Blarney House, a Scottish Baronial mansion within the Blarney Castle & Gardens estate, offers a glimpse into the lives of the Colthurst family, who have owned the estate since 1704. Built in 1874 by John Lanyon, the house replaced an earlier Georgian Gothic structure that was destroyed by fire in 1820. The current house incorporates classical details from Ardrum, a significant building that was demolished.

Located less than 200 meters south of Blarney Castle, Blarney House overlooks Blarney Lake and features a detailed interior. The house is open to the public during the summer months, offering tours that provide a look inside the home. The interior showcases a double-height inner hall lit from above, interconnecting drawing rooms, and an oak staircase. Decoration styles range from neo-Jacobean to Adam Revival.

Lady Colthurst commissioned the house after the death of her first children. The design includes pinnacles, crow-stepped gables, and turrets with conical roofs. The high-quality details incorporated from Ardrum highlight its historical importance. The house is surrounded by formal gardens with manicured lawns, rose beds, and shrub beds. The rooms have tall plate-glass windows that offer views of the lake.

Blarney House

Blarney Castle stands as the historical seat of the Muskerry MacCarthys, a prominent branch of the MacCarthy dynasty that held sway over much of Munster for centuries. Originally a wooden structure dating back to the 10th century, the current stone keep was constructed in 1446 by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty. Cormac MacCarthy, a King and Bishop, is renowned for his contributions to Irish heritage, including the construction of Cormac's Chapel at the Rock of Cashel, a site with ancient ties to the High Kings of Munster and a location where St. Patrick is said to have appointed a MacCarthy ancestor as High King.

The legendary Blarney Stone, set into the tower in 1446, is central to the castle's fame, with one legend attributing it as a gift from Robert the Bruce of Scotland to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, in gratitude for military assistance at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Another legend suggests the goddess Cliodhna blessed the stone, saving Cormac Laidir MacCarthy from a lawsuit. Kissing the Blarney Stone is said to bestow the gift of eloquence.

Despite changes in ownership, including periods of siege and confiscation during the Irish Confederate Wars and the Williamite War, the MacCarthy legacy remains intertwined with Blarney Castle. The MacCarthy dynasty, originating with Carthach, an Eóganacht Chaisil king, divided into several notable septs, including the MacCarthy Reagh and the MacCarthy of Duhallow, each playing a significant role in the region's history.

MacCarthy Dynasty

Blarney Castle's Poison Garden, a relatively recent addition to the grounds, is located behind the castle battlements and stands in stark contrast to the lush, sprawling parkland. It serves as an educational exhibit, showcasing poisonous plants found in both wild and domestic settings, detailing their historical, medicinal, and toxic properties. Visitors are greeted with explicit warnings: "Do not touch, smell, or eat any plant!"—a caution underscored by the presence of skull and crossbones signage.

The garden cultivates a collection of deadly specimens, including Wolfsbane, Mandrake, Hellebore, Hemlock, Nightshade, and Ricinus communis, the source of castor oil and the lethal poison ricin. Some of the most dangerous plants are secured within steel cages to prevent accidental contact. Illicit plants, such as opium poppy and cannabis, have also been known to grow in the garden, with instances of Irish police ordering their removal.

Despite the inherent dangers, the Poison Garden highlights the dual nature of these plants, exploring their roles in traditional and modern medicine. The garden's design includes features like golden chain trees with dangling yellow flowers, creating a hauntingly beautiful yet perilous environment. Its creation aimed to illustrate the fine line between therapeutic and deadly uses of plants, a concept that dates back to the de Medici family in Italy. The Poison Garden offers a unique and macabre experience, blending botanical beauty with the stark reality of nature's potent toxins.

Poison Garden

Blarney Castle's extensive grounds, encompassing 60 acres between the entrance gates and a distant lake, invite exploration through a network of paths leading to diverse gardens, arboretums, and avenues. These thematic gardens include a Boardwalk and Water garden featuring waterfalls and caves, a Carnivorous Courtyard, and the Jurassic Fern Garden, a notable highlight. The Icehouse and Great Trees, some of Ireland's largest and oldest specimens, add to the botanical diversity.

Visitors can also discover a double Herbaceous Border with a rose pergola, the Himalayan Valley, and the intriguing Poison Garden. The mystical Rock Close, Seven Sisters stone circle, and surprising Tropical Border and Vietnamese Garden offer unique environments within the landscape. The grounds extend to a lake, steeped in legend, adding a layer of mystique to the garden's allure. These gardens provide miles of trails through hills and woodlands, offering a full day of exploration. The staggering collection of specimen trees that make up Blarney Castle’s arboretum constitutes the view north from Blarney House. Two waterfalls and multiple gardens are available to be explored.

Blarney Castle & Gardens

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Expansive Grounds

Ancient Roots

The Blarney Stone

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