Blarney Stone
Blarney Stone things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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As a history buff, I highly recommend visiting the Blarney Castle and Gardens for an unforgettable experience. The castle, originally built in 13th century but with the current stone structure built in the 15th century, is shrouded in history and myth, and offers a glimpse back in time to the days of kings and knights. But the main attraction at the Blarney Castle is the famous Blarney Stone, located at the top of the castle’s tower. Legend has it that kissing the stone will give you the gift of the gab, or the ability to speak eloquently. Visitors can climb the tower to reach the stone, and take part in this age-old tradition. Aside from the Blarney Stone, visitors can also explore the beautifully manicured gardens that surround the castle. The gardens are home to a vast array of plant life, including ferns, flowers, and trees, and offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Moreover, at the Poison Garden, tourists can learn about the dangerous plants and their history of being associated, with witchcraft and other dark arts. They will also get to explore the mystical Druid’s Circle, a sacred spot in Irish culture wrapped with many secrets and fascinating tales. The Blarney Castle and Gardens is a site of immense cultural and historical significance, offering visitors a chance to explore the rich history of Ireland, as well as a chance to experience its natural beauty in the form of the gardens. Don’t miss the chance to visit this iconic destination on your next trip to Ireland!
vonski_travels
22.1K66
This is such a popular place for tourists visiting Ireland, so expect it to be very busy! The “usual” waiting time in line to kiss the Blarney Stone is about 90 minutes to 2 hours! Be sure to arrive as early as possible (the gates open at 9 AM) to avoid the huge crowds that start to arrive by bus about 9 or 9:30 each day. If you can make it there early, go directly to the Castle first to get in line. We only had to wait about 15 minutes after making the climb to the top of the Castle to get our kiss and a photo because we were standing at the gate before opening time and the line was fairly short. It’s difficult to get good photos of your friends or family kissing the Stone, because you are upside down and bent back. They take photos for you, and it costs about 10 or 12 Euros for each printed and digital copy of your photo. It’s worth it, though! Plan on spending a few more hours here after your “stone kissing” to explore the expansive gardens and walking trails. The gardens are really beautiful, and there are several other very interesting features to find and photograph. You can buy tickets online or at the ticket counters. I didn’t think that there was any real advantage to buying them online in advance, because there was no dedicated line for ticket holders. We just had to stand in the same long lines as everyone else. Definitely make the plan to stop here for several hours, at least, to kiss the stone for the “gift of gab” when you are in Ireland.
Mark Pitts
00
The issue with the famous stone is a 1hr wait for a bad photo, for everyone to kiss a dirty stone which locals pee on since they dislike the tourists. The main issue is that the staff don't clean it. About 20 people kissed it and not a single wipe. You have to pay them to clean it but you're also so rushed you probably forget to ask or pay anyway. You have to lie upside down, bent backwards and kiss upwards so it's terrible either way and uncomfortable. The man will help gold you but its easier for smaller lighter people. In general the visitors are pretty rude... and stupid. The castle is tiny and narrow, as in you have to crouch when waiting in line unless you are my height (under 5foot 1). And small feet 2.5-3 to fit on the steps. Everyone had to walk sideways. I did tell them off for their stupid comments of moving forward when people in front taking photos and videos, when obviously there is a line and a wait. Idiots decide to walk in the short areas or up your arse for no reason. There is literally no need to be up people's spaces or to make yourself stand on an uncomfortable area where you hit your head or cant stand on a step because it is the same queue. The park is huge, its not signed well and tiring. Some areas you cant see, e.g. the walled garden, it added extra 50 minutes walk for no reason and we didnt see the lake since that adds on another 20mins.
TheKaKaNow YouTube
00
At €18 per adult this seemed quite pricey, however we wanted to visit the Blarney Stone and so we went. We got there for opening and were first up the tower to the stone so no queuing for us! You can buy official photos of you kissing the Blarney stone but at €10 for one and €18 for two we just took our own pictures, though of course they aren't as good as the official ones! After we had a wander round the castle and gardens. Honestly the gardens are amazing, there's various different walks, caves, stones, waterfalls, stone circles, lake, rivers, all sorts. We clocked over five miles in a few hours and could have walked further had we not been continuing travelling round Ireland in the afternoon. There's no dogs in the place so only two of us came. The other two adults went elsewhere where they could take the dog. There's shops and cafes. We had food in the courtyard cafe and it was fab. Scones were lovely. I would definitely recommend this place. It was well worth the money we spent and of course we now have the gift of eloquence... apparently!
Donna W
00
This was an item on my vacation list to complete and was fun to do. Traveling inside the castle up to the stone was indeed arduous, and you should plan to wear hiking shoes to have the best experience. I did this in the rain and needed a rain jacket the entire time. It is DIFFICULT GOING UP, the winding stair case is steep and gets smaller and smaller as you go higher. It is very easy to come down but those with height fears and claustrophobic tendencies beware, this will be intimidating to complete. It took me an hour and a half to wait in line, climb the castle, and kiss the stone. Go slow, take your time, and keep breathing. The view from the top is worth the scary stair case! Take 10 minutes to STRETCH your legs and arms before you climb the castle, I promise you will be grateful for it later. I didn't and had sore legs for days afterwards. You can purchase your pictures of you kissing the stone upon exit for €12.00 if you want 1 copy plus access to a digital copy with a nice paper frame to store it in.
Emily F
00
Fantastic, with history and beautiful large grounds with many interesting walkways, colourful/unusual plants, art features and bird activity. Beehive information hub was great and a peaceful sit down by the lake. The information about climbing up to the Blarney Stone says it is arduous, with uneven steps (which put me off), my husband did go and he found it relatively easy and there were interesting rooms off the stairwell that you could stop to look at. There may be a long wait to kiss the Blarney/climb to the castle roof to see the views at peak times. Spent three hours here and could have stayed longer. There are picnic tables, plenty of space and a coffee shop is beside the castle. Pricier than some grounds/attractions 18 euro per adult (there may be family discounts) but as said, you end up staying longer - there are lots of natural nooks and crannies to explore and some cool stories to go along with certain features (the Wishing Steps for example). Will re-visit.
Jennifer Caul
00
Nearby Attractions Of Blarney Stone
Blarney Castle & Gardens
Blarney Woollen Mills
Blarney Castle & Gardens(Gairdíní Chaisleán na Blarnan)
Blarney Castle House (Teach Caisleán na Blarnan)
The White House B&B
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Blarney Woollen Mills
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Blarney Castle House (Teach Caisleán na Blarnan)
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Nearby Restaurants Of Blarney Stone
Christy’s Bar & Grill
Tung Sing Chinese, Blarney
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Eat in It
Blarney Castle Hotel
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The Mill Restaurant
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Elizabeths Pizzeria ( Pizza Pizzeria)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Blarney, Cork, T23 Y598, Ireland
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Phone
+353 21 438 5252
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Website
blarneycastle.ie
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(2.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
scenic
Description
The Blarney Stone is a block of Carboniferous limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab. The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446.
attractions: Blarney Castle & Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney Castle & Gardens(Gairdíní Chaisleán na Blarnan), Blarney Castle House (Teach Caisleán na Blarnan), The White House B&B, restaurants: Christy’s Bar & Grill, Tung Sing Chinese, Blarney, Lantern House, Eat in It, Blarney Castle Hotel, Blarney Burger, The Mill Restaurant, The Golden Panda, Elizabeths Pizzeria ( Pizza Pizzeria)
