Queuing Up for the Blarney Stone
When I got to the top of Blarney Castle. There were noticeably more people here than the lower levels. It would seem that the main attraction is actually here – the Blarney Stone. I didn’t expect that stone be all the way up here. People were queuing up to kiss the Blarney Stone. The legend is that Cormac Mac Cathaigh, the builder of Blarney Castle was involved in a lawsuit. This was back in the 1400s. It was said that he invoked the assistance of the goddess Cliodhna, who told him to kiss the first stone he sees on the way to court. He did and he managed to defend his case with great eloquence that it was believed that the stone had special powers. The stone was then installed on the top of Blarney castle where it rests today.
Onwards to the Blarney Stone
Now, the stone gained a kind of fame which it is said to be able to grant the gift of gab to anyone who kisses the stone. Thus began tourism in Blarney Castle. People would come here to kiss the stone. However, you don’t just bend down an kiss it. You have to do it upside down. There weren’t safety rails back then and people were suspended from their legs just to kiss it. I’d imagine there were more than a few accidents here.
Nowadays, it is much safer but it is still as strange. People kissing the stone will lie down on a non slip mat with their head near the stone. There will be a man holding your legs down to make sure you don’t fall all the way in. There are also hand rails for people to grab on to on their way to the kiss the stone. So you grab on to the hand rails while upside down and pull yourself nearer the stone and give it a smack. The castle also takes photos of you kissing the stone, you may have to pay through the nose for the photo though so make sure you bring your camera. As for the power of the stone? The kiss seems to be effective for some people, as I know it was very effective for a good friend of mine.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/BlarneyCastle.kmz} zoom=19]