Kissing The Blarney Stone
Submitted by: Ian SG Smith
Blarney Castle is not a myth as some might have it. Kissing the Blarney Stone isn t a myth either, but visiting one and doing the other has been a must for tens of thousands, if not millions of people over the years.
The myth is of course that if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you will have the gift of the gab a precious gift meaning you will have mystical powers of persuasion thereafter. Most Irishmen have this power naturally!!
To kiss the Blarney Stone does require considerable effort, particularly if you have a fear of heights. You will need to climb up 127 steep steps, and queue for much of the way, sometimes next to openings in the wall, where it is easy to have vertigo such is the height. Then you have to queue around the castle ramparts and the middle is a large gaping hole, not for the fainthearted. Finally you have to lie on your back over a sheer drop of 120 feet , and get yourself into a very unflattering position to kiss the Blarney Stone. The good news is you are held safely whilst you do this, the bad news is that the famed health and Safety Laws have nothing to say over the transference of germs from stone kisser to stone kisser!! Ladies are strongly advised to wear trousers!!
As to the history of the Blarney Stone well that is something for legend. One tale is that it came from Scotland in the year 1314 when Robert the Bruce beat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn. Another is that this oblong block of limestone has some connection with the Crusades, but no-one can be sure. What matters is that the stone is believed to have special powers and that belief continues today, and as strong, indeed stronger than ever judging by the number of visitors from all over the world.
The name Blarney was apparently introduced into the English language by none other than Queen Elizabeth the 1st who was charmed by an Irish Lord who made her promises which he conspicuously failed to fulfil. His name was of course Lord Blarney, and his home was Blarney Castle. Thus the expression Blarney it s all blarney which has been quoted and misquoted throughout the succeeding centuries.
For those people who are accumulators of castles visited, then Blarney castle is not the only famous castle to visit on a trip to Ireland. The most authentic castle and also very popular with tourists is Bunratty Castle which overlooks the O Garney River. It was built in the early part of the fifteenth century on a strategic site, with some signs of earlier fortifications possibly dating back to the thirteenth century.
It is a huge rectangular pile, with square towers, it is easily the most impressive of Ireland s medieval strongholds, and the Great Hall with its 48 foot ceiling will impress even the most travel and castle weary visitor..
Today you can wine and dine in traditional manner at Bunratty castle after visiting the surrounding theme park made like a 19th century Irish Village.
You should kiss the Blarney Stone and visit Bunratty Castle on your trip to Ireland
About the Author: Ian has been writing travel articles for over ten years now. His newest interest is in finding
Krups Coffee Pods for sale
and all the best resources to find them
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