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Blarney Castle is More Than Kissing an Old Stone
Irish Legend May or May Not Bring the Gift of Eloquence
Kissing the Blarney stone, a tradition for more than two centuries, is among the most famous legends in Ireland. We decided to give the old saliva-covered stone a smooch on our first tour of Ireland.
Actually, some of us just pretented to kiss the stone with hundreds of years of dried human saliva. But pretending was almost as fun as the real thing.
According to legend, anyone who kisses the stone atop Blarney Castle gains the gift of eloquence. It has been a beacon of hope for the introverts of this world. People still line up to kiss the stone today — sometimes waiting on steep castle steps for as much as three hours.
But kissing the Blarney Stone is only one reason to visit this major historical attraction in County Cork. The castle itself offers a rich lesson in Irish history, and the gardens surrounding the castle are a surprising bonus.
Dungeons and Upside Down People
Blarney Castle has existed in some form since the 10th century. The first building was made out of wood and replaced by a stone structure in 1210, according to the official castle website.
