Kissing the World's "Dirtiest" Stone in Ireland

📍 Blarney Castle & Gardens 🎫 Tickets: Adult €23 | Student €18 🚌 From Cork: Take Bus 215 at Blackpool (20min ride) 🏰 A Castle Steeped in History Dating back to the 10th century, the current Blarney Castle was built in the 15th century by Cormac McCarthy (a powerful Irish clan leader). The McCarthys played a key role in Cork's resistance against English rule. Legend says Queen Elizabeth I grew so frustrated with their diplomatic "Blarney talk" that the term came to mean "smooth, flattering speech." 💋 The Infamous Blarney Stone Climb the castle’s narrow spiral stairs to kiss the stone and gain the "gift of gab"! Staff assist you as you lean backward over the parapet (free, but terrifying!). The stone’s wild origins—from Scottish kings to Crusader relics—are explained upstairs. ☠️ Poison Garden & More Wicked Plants: See real-life Devil’s Snare & Mandrakes (yes, like Harry Potter’s!) locked in cages. Scenic Trails: Explore the Lake Walk and Woodland Walk (we spent 4+ hours—totally worth it!). 🌿 Why Visit? • Kiss for eloquence 💬 • Gothic ruins + lush gardens 🌳 • Dark history meets fairy-tale charm 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #IrelandCastles #CorkAdventures #WeekendGetaway #DublinDayTrip