Tourist attractions, every country has one. It might be a natural wonder, or possibly a man made marvel. You may think it is overrated or something only tourists do, but obviously there must be something to it or people wouldn't flock to places like the Eiffel Tower in France, The Colosseum in Italy, or the Great Pyramids in Africa. In Greece you would be remiss to not climb to the top of The Acropolis and marvel in the ancient ruins. No visit to China would be complete without trip to the Great Wall right? Visiting America? You don't want to miss the Statue of Liberty or The Golden Gate Bridge! So where do people flock to when in Ireland? Besides the pubs?
We have been living in Ireland for almost nine months now and I am actually surprised I have not written a blog post about it, especially because the Village of Blarney and it's magical stone lies just about 10 kilometers to the northwest of us.
So what exactly is the Blarney Stone? Interestingly enough, no one really seems to know. One legend says it was Jacob's Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah. Some believe it to be the stone Moses struck with his staff during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Maybe it was a coronation stone used by the Scottish monarchs perhaps?
The stories are many, but the most widely accepted is that the stone was given to Cormac Mc Carthy, King of Munster, in gratitude for the Irish support at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Eventually, the stone was built into the walls of Blarney Castle. The legend says that a witch saved from drowning by the King, rewarded him with a spell. If he was to kiss the stone he would gain a speech that would win all to him.
That somehow morphed into the practice of kissing the Blarney Stone today. Now it is believed that the power of eloquent speech will be bestowed upon all who kiss the stone. Who doesn't want that right? That is why thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to Blarney Castle each year in search of the gift of gab. I am proud to count myself among those tourists. It might be a silly thing to do, but at least I can say I did it!
Kissing the stone is not for the faint of heart. Not because of the horrible rumors that the local's relieve themselves on it. I highly doubt that happens. It is because to reach the stone you must ascend a long and narrow spiral staircase to the very top of the Castle about 90 feet above the ground. Then while hanging backwards over the edge while someone holds your feet you align your head with the stone and reach back for the kiss. Here is what it looks like.
For some it is difficult to look beyond the tourist trap that kissing the stone has become. However, if you can look past the exploitation of it this tourist attraction is absolutely worth the visit. The grounds are lovely and the castle is very much a part of the rich history of Ireland. It is a fun daytrip, and you just never know, the gift of gab may just be waiting for you!
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| Blarney Castle |
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| View from the top |
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| Silly Husband! |
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