Home > Tips > Tourist Traps > Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle

The old tale that kissing the Blarney stone confers loquaciousness, or 'the gift of the gab', has been a big draw for many years and although the origin of the myth is sketchy to say the least it has been hyped up to great economic effect.

It's a must see destination on many an itinerary but all too often a sore disappointment.

Photo by: Stuart Yeates

The reality when you get to Blarney is a long line climbing arduously to the top of a not especially impressive castle before hanging upside down to kiss a wall that has already been slobbered on by countless visitors that day, not to mention previous years.

If that does not put you off try this quote from a local who worked there in his schooldays:

"When all the tourists had gone for the day, we used to piss on the Blarney Stone. It gave us a strange feeling of superiority when we saw tourists kissing that place where we had seen our own piss."

Should you go?

If paddywhackery and all things "Oirish" are what you are after you will be delighted with this place. And those willing to keep their tongues firmly in their cheeks can have a bit of fun with it - it's all a bit of a laugh and a good laugh does nobody any harm!

It is also a worthwhile climb on a good day just for the amazing views from the top of the castle.

Kissing the Blarney Stone

After kissing the Blarney Stone Photo by netdanceSince I first wrote about this it has been picked up and discussed at several forums and discussion boards, where there are many people who doubt the veracity of the peeing story.

It's a story that has certainly done the rounds, and I freely admit I didn't hear the quote first hand but also have to say that when I did it had the ring of truth for me.

That quote is old, I can't say whether it still happens, my hunch is it isn't common but that now and then it just might.

Location Map for Blarney Castle

Your Comments

Please note: To prevent spam all comments are moderated. Promotional or advertising comments will not be published. If you want to ask a question or start a discussion rather than post a comment, please so so in the forum. Thank you!

Posted by: Kevin Traynor
13 Dec 2007, 23:05
I was born and raised in Ireland, and am slow to talk but impossible to shut up when I get going, and I never saw the blarney stone, much less kissed it. My parents could smell a tourist trap a mile away.

Posted by: Jani
15 Mar 2008, 09:56
I'm going to Ireland in June, and I can't wait to kiss the blarney stone!

Posted by: John
21 Apr 2008, 05:24
The castle is impressive and the climb to the top is fun. I first toured Ireland in 1970 and some locals told me that people did piss on the stone - told me the day after I had kissed it...

Urban legend or fact?? My feeling is that it was pissed on in days gone by but is no longer (I hope!)

Posted by: Angel
07 Sep 2008, 22:03
Kissing that stone is of course a big no no (if only for the fact that you have to hang upside down from a rather scary ledge!), but other than that, visiting Blarney was one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland! The gardens around the castle are stunning and the castle itself is quite interesting, a ruin, but still enough of it intact to climb around in it, I enjoyed it greatly. Blarney town is cute as well and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Enjoy this Article? Tell a Friend! | Bookmark This Article: