BLARNEY CASTLE & STONE! LEGENDS, HISTORY & TOUR! IRELAND!

We recently visited Blarney Castle, in County Cork, Ireland, and we wanted to share with you what we found. We will tell you some of the area’s history, tell you about the Blarney Stone’s magical power, and take you on a tour of the castle. We know that the area surrounding Blarney Castle has long been a location of importance and for centuries, the MacCarthy Clan has been associated with it. The MacCarthy’s reached the height of their power in the year 1127, when their Chieftain Cormac MacCarthy became King of Munster, one of the original four kingdoms of Ireland. A few years later in 1169, the Normans invaded Ireland and for the next five hundred years allegiances of the Irish clans shifted, and a struggle for power was always in effect. This led to numerous conflicts and wars, not only with the Normans, and eventually the English, but also with other Irish clans. The need for a strong fortress to be used as a base of operations lead to the construction of Blarney Castle, and a need for what was soon to be referred to as, “The Gift of Eloquence”.
The castle was once eight acres and surrounded by a wall. Inside what is called, the bawn, would have been a small village of important workers for the castle. One story of note was in the mid 1600s when Oliver Cromwell attacked the castle with canon fire and eventually the castle fell to him. All of the inhabitants had escaped through the cave systems under the castle and threw the treasure into the lake. To this day has not been recovered.
So, what is the Blarney Stone? It is a flat section of stone that is placed high on the castles wall, with what is said to be magical powers, and if you kiss it, you are given the “Gift of Eloquence”, or “Gift of Gab”. This legend grew when in the 1500s, leaders of the MacCarthy Clan were able to talk and stall to give straight answers to the demands of loyalty to Queen Elizabeth I. Upon hearing the confusing and misleading talk of the MacCarthy’s, Queen Elizabeth said that it was a load of “Blarney” and that term lives on to this day for what some would refer to as B.S.
Thousands of tourists a year make the journey up the spiral staircase, to the top of the castle where they quite literally bend over backwards and stretch out as far as they can and lay a simple kiss on the magical stone.
There are many versions of how the Blarney Stone. The first legend has a biblical connection. It is said that it is the pillow of Jacob, that he laid his head on while he dreamed of the stairway to heaven. Some say that it was brought to Blarney from the Holy Land after a crusade and others say that the Prophet Jeremiah brought it, and it became the “Lia Fail”, or “Fatal Stone”, used as an oracular throne of Irish Kings.
Another legend is that the Blarney Stone was given to Cormac Láidir MacCarthy, King of Munster and MacCarthy Chieftain, by Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce in appreciation for his sending 5,000 troops to help him defeat the English King Edward II, thus securing his crown. The legend says that it is a piece of the Stone of Scone, on which the Kings of Scotland were crowned. Before becoming the Stone of Scone, it is said to have been the deathbed pillow of Saint Columba who died on the island of Iona in the year 597.
Another legend of the Blarney Stone is that there was once a Queen of the Fairies in South Munster who was the daughter of a powerful druid. She fell in love with a young chieftain who broke her heart by not returning her love. He was killed in battle and she found his body on a stone on the banks of the River Lee. His blood had soaked in the stone, which she continually kissed. This caused her magical powers to be absorbed by the stone itself. The Fairy Queen later gave the stone to Cormac Láidir MacCarthy and told him that if he kissed it, his difficulties would be resolved.
Two other stories exist as to the origin of the stone and both of them are from the bible. The first is that it is the Stone of Ezel, which David hid behind on Jonathan's advice when he fled from his enemy Saul. The second story is that it is the rock that gushed water when struck by Moses during the wandering in the wilderness.
Whatever the origin of the stone is, it is said that Cormac Láidir MacCarthy, the builder of the oldest part of the castle, was told the power of the stone by an old woman that he rescued from drowning in a lake. The old woman turned out to be a witch and in gratitude for saving her, she told him about the power of the stone that was already at his castle. Cormac had the stone placed at a very difficult spot to reach so only his most trusted companions would have access to it or know of its magic.
This video also has a very detailed tour of all over the castle and the grounds.
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[@beckyhoward4669]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Definitely worth a visit!

[@Dd13200]

Awesome

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Thank you sir!

[@Hey_its_Koda]

I love castles. I love the landscape in Ireland. Im Navajo and I always say thanks to Ireland for helping our tribe during Covid. Thank you to the Irish people.

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

I’d say the landscape of Ireland is quite different than the land of the Navajo. It’s amazing how two places can look so different but still so beautiful.

[@gallowglass2630]

Your welcome glad we could be of some assistance

[@tattoobillyband7725]

Nice video

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Amazing place!

[@debbybrady1246]

Cormac McCarthy(McCarty) was my 8th great grandfather.

[@TheIronDuke502]

Very Nice!!!

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Thank you sir!

[@gregsayre4700]

​hope you had a great time

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Amazing trip!

[@theworldatwar382]

Great episode. My mom is from Drogheda, Ireland. I have kissed the blarney stone . Interesting story about Drogheda Ireland. My mom grew up on Scarlet St. It is called Scarlett street because that is where the blood ran down from the castle after Oliver Cromwell slaughtered the people and took others as slaves. Interestingly, there is a tribe of poor whites in Barbados called the Redlegs. They are the descendants of the slaves taken from Drogheda by Cromwell.

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Oh my gosh. Tragic but interesting stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@westt9030]

Meh

[@familytreenutshistorygenealogy]

Glad you enjoyed! Lol