Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is a famous Irish historical site located in the village of Blarney, just a mere 8 kilometers from the city of Cork. It’s a huge block of stone that was a gift of gratitude to the Irish people from Robert the Bruce, for their unwavering support in the 1314 battle of Bannockburn. It was in 1446, when King Dermot McCarthy had a castle specially made for the stone, constructing battlements to be a part of it. And thus, the Blarney castle has come to existence.

The Blarney Stone is said to have special powers to bequeath any person who kisses it with the gift of eloquence or flattery. This is why it has become one of the famous landmarks that tourists flock to in Ireland every year. Countless heads of states, literary geniuses, and followers of the arts are said to have been gifted with such talent because of the Blarney Stone. A caveat to the kisser of the stone, experts have declared the Blarney stone to be one of the most unsanitary pieces of history. But that hasn’t stopped people from trying.

If you’re visiting Ireland, make sure that you head on to the Blarney Castle for a taste of the quiet countryside and receive a history lesson as well. Even if you decide to not follow the kissing tradition, you will find that it’s still quite the thrill to watch other people fall in line to kiss the stone upside down.

Blarney Stone