While driving through Ireland, we knew there were specific places we wanted to stop and specific things we wanted to see. We also knew there was a specific stone that we needed to smooch. We decided to spend two nights in Cork. This gave us time to explore the city, ring the bells at St. Anne’s Church, check out the Butter Muesum, and stop by the English Market. Our favorite sight, and the real reason for our trip to Cork, was Blarney Castle.

The castle is a medieval stronghold that dates from 1446 (was originally built in 1200 as a wooden structure and made into stone in 1210). When you visit, you get to walk through the castle itself and up the stairs to the Blarney Stone and back down through a few common areas.

The history of the castle is super long and interesting. There are plaques throughout the grounds and even in the walls of the structures for you to self-learn as you go, or you can utilize the audio guides available for $6.

The official website recommends planning to spend 3 hours or so at Blarney Castle. We covered almost all of the areas available to the public and probably spent closer to four hours. You can purchase tickets in advance on the website but can also do so onsite. There are no timed entries and tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $9 for children (6-16).

There is so much to see:

• 1 Blarney Village Grounds (parking)

• 2 Entrance

• 3 Castle

• 4 Blarney Stone

• 5 Battlements

• 6 Cave

• 7 Dungeons

• 8 Court

• 9 Poison Garden

• 10 Carnivorous Courtyard

• 11 Rock Close

• 12 Stable Yard Cafe & Gift Shop

• 13 Winter Beds

• 14 Lookout Tower

• 15 Victorian Septic Tank House

• 16 Blarney House

• 17 Herbaceous Border & Pergola

• 18 Himalayan Valley

• 19 Old Limekiln

• 20 Belgian Beds

• 21 Lee House

• 22 Fern Garden

• 23 Horses Graveyard

• 24 Vietnamese Woodland

• 25 Walled Kitchen Garden

• 26 Bee Observatory

• 27 Lake & Jetty

• 28 Formal Gardens

• A Boardwalk & Water Garden

• B Waterfall

• C Dolmen

• D Wishing Steps

• E Witches Kitchen

• F Druids Cave

• G Witches Stone

• H Druids Circle

• I Forest Trail

• J Sacrificial Alter

• K Fairy Glade

• L Pinetum

• M The Seven Sisters

The walls are 18 feet thick at the base, gradually sloping inwards as they rise. This makes the building more stable but would also have helped with defense: when an object was dropped from the top it would bounce off the wall on the way down and fly outwards into the enemy.

-From Blarneycastle.ie

The Stone of Eloquence or the Blarney Stone is enticing to everyone. Sir Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Sir Mick Jagger, Eddie Redmayne, and Joe Manganiello have all made the trip. Ash and I happily stood in the line to lay a kiss on the stone ourselves to gain the gift of gab!

There are many stories about the origin of the stone and there are some available for you to read while you stand in the queue.

The stone is among the machicolations of the castle. Back in the day, machicolations were the openings in the floor used to toss stones, boiling water, etc down on top of attackers.

When its your turn, there is a Castle employee there to help you down and to hold you and guide you to the stone. You have to lay on your back and lean down and over to reach it. If you have a fear of heights don’t look down!!

We went in 2018 (pre covid) and they did have a disinfectant bottle and rag and every so often would give it a spray.

After we kissed the Blarney Stone, we continued with our self-guided tour of the Castle, stopping to check out all the rooms we had access to.

There are 60 acres of property, and the owners have done a wonderful job of laying out trails, signs, arboretums, avenues, etc to help you enjoy your visit and make sure you have seen it all.

After we finished walking through the Castle, we decided to check out some of the gardens. We started with the most unique one, the Poison Garden.

All of the plants had little signs sharing what the plant was and what made it dangerous.

Once we finished flirting with disaster, we made our way to Blarney House. Established in 1874, the house is the owner’s residence and is open for tours in June, July, and August.

After gaping at the gorgeous house, we continued on our way through additional gardens and mystic stones.

It was so lovely to take in, and there were so many things to stop and look at! Make sure you have your camera or phone charged and that you have plenty of space for photos!

The Rock Close is found on the eastern side of the Castle. It is the oldest part of the garden and is a mystical place, said to be the site of an ancient druidic settlement. Most of the rocks stand today as they have stood for over 2,000 years. In this magical landscape are a druidic sacrificial altar, a hermit’s cell, and a witch’s kitchen.

Apparently, there are the stones of the witch’s staircase which will grant your wish if you perform the necessary ritual correctly.

It is said that the yew over the witch’s kitchen is more than 600 years old.

Legend around the Castle is that you are advised not to approach the druid’s altar when dusk falls!

There are also three specific walking trails you can take while visiting:

• Woodland Walk

  • Peaceful woodland walk that is in a quiet secluded area that leads to a circuit of the 22-acre Blarney Lake.

• Lake Walk

  • Walk around the 22-acre lake in about 45 minutes and take in the beautiful sights, the waterfowl, and the resident family of swans.

• Riverside Walk

  • Take a stroll west from the entrance to the Badgers Cave, and follow the river Martin to the far end of the estate. This walk is covered in a canopy and also offers a chance to spot the otters and kingfishers that live on the estate.

If you find yourself planning your trip to Ireland and looking for a must do activity, make sure you add in a stop to Blarney Castle & Gardens. It is a great way to spend a few hours and take in some beauty, history, and mystery. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes, you have rain gear (just in case as most everything is exposed to the elements), and that you have plenty of time to explore. Depending on the time of year/day the line for the stone can be long.