If I have traveled that far, I would probably do it. But answering now from the comfort of my home after a whole week inside a house with 2 sick kids, my first instinct was no.. Your scarf makes it look like you are harnessed.
I thought wow.. No, def not harness-worthy :- All of the mom's I know have been battling flu viruses these last few weeks, sorry to hear that it stuck near you guys too!
Hope the little ones are better :- And glad to have some support about kissing the rock! I mean, exactly, you're all the way over there! I would totally do it! It looks like a blast. And I never worry much about germs. We are becoming so germaphobic. I always think that all of that hand sanitizer and disinfectant does more harm than good.
I will take Good old fashioned germs over chemicals any day. Amy is right, your scarf just looks like a harness:. I'd hoped you back me up Deb!! And I soo agree about the germs — they say that kids who grow up in households with dogs and cats have stronger immune systems because they're exposed to more germs..
I lived in Ireland for 3 years and never saw the Blarney stone — awful, I know! I went lots of other places though. If I did go, I think I'd blow it a kiss ;. You never saw it!! I succumb to the touristy too much to have missed it.
So far though it seems as though no one else would have kissed it! Sheesh :- Perhaps though you'd still get some of the benefits from a blown kiss — I like it, nice compromise ;-. To be honest, I probably wouldn't bother… I'd just take some photos of other people doing it ; I do love castles, though. You'd have loved Blarney Castle then — it was really quite pretty :- I lived watching the others too — showed me how ridiculous I had just looked! Last updated on October 29, Ireland is the most charming country on the planet.
The lush green grounds of Blarney Castle viewed from up high on the top of the castle. Getting to the Blarney Stone in Cork Without my dad leading the way, my trip focused on the southern coast of Ireland. The castle towers overhead making a looming figure that feels that ominous once you are inside winding through the narrow staircases.
What is the Blarney Stone? This looks like so much fun! I'd get Mr G to kiss his heritage… while I take photos ; Reply. Oh yeah, I know you'd have been right there with me :- Reply.
Catching up on your blog. Yes, I would have kissed it. But you prob would have guessed that. Another myth claims the stone was St. Columba's deathbed pillow. He died on the island of Iona and after his death the stone was moved to mainland Scotland.
There it became the Scottish Stone of Destiny. You see, Cormac didn't like the English much, so he sent five thousand of his men over to Scotland to help Robert the Bruce defeat the English at Bannockburn in To show his gratitude to Cormac, Robert split the Stone of Destiny and the portion we kiss today was transported back to Cork by Cormac to find a home in the walls of his MacCarthy castle.
Another legend claims the stone may have been brought back to Ireland from the Crusades. This myth claims it is the "Stone of Ezel. Another biblical origin sometimes proposed, is that this is the stone which gushed water upon being struck by Moses. Another legend claims it to be a true Irish stone. He said a little prayer to none other than Cliodhna pronounced Clee-on-nah , the Queen of the Banshees. Through a dream he received her instructions to kiss the first stone he saw on his way to the courthouse, which he duly did.
He then proceeded to speak with such eloquence he won his court case. The stone was brought back to his castle and incorporated into the parapet. And there it remains to this very day - just waiting to be kissed. But only if you're strong enough, brave enough and, believe me, only if you're agile enough to complete the task. First you must huff and puff your way up steep steps to reach the very parapets of the castle walls.
Then, when you finally recover from your endurance test, a little gymnastics are in order. You must lie on your back and then twist your spine and neck into extreme extension, then pucker those lips, to land a smooch bang smack right in the middle of the infamous stone.
And beware if you don't have a head for heights. You can even see the ground, over feet below, as you lean backwards. Today a well trained and well practiced attendant helps all hopeful kissers to contort their spines into the requisite position, and luckily an iron railing has been placed to prevent any mishaps.
Such was not the case years ago, and would-be kissers have succumbed to gravity, falling to their deaths in pursuit of eloquence. And if you're a germaphobe, good luck to you. On busy summer days over one thousand visitors pucker up to land their lips on this smooth and shiny slab of bluestone. If, for even one moment, you allow a thought of all that slobber cross your mind, you'll never manage to purse those lips. But if you're anything like me, you'll just throw caution to the wind and kiss that flag.
The gift of the gab is so worth the risks. And so as a final tribute to the power of the Blarney Stone, I thought I would quote Francis Sylvester Mahony, an Irish bard of the early nineteenth century, who wrote:. There is a stone there, that whoever kisses,. He never misses to grow eloquent:. Or become a member of Parliament. A noble spouter he'll sure turn out, or. An out and outer to be let alone;.
Don't try to hinder him, or to bewilder him,. For he is a pilgrim from the Blarney stone. Now many tourists to Blarney get so carried away with kissing the famous stone, they miss out on one of the highlights of a visit to the castle. The grounds surrounding the castle are magical. So if your itinerary allows, take a little stroll through the 60 acres of parklands and discover all that Blarney has to offer. And so I hope, as you explore the landmarks of Ireland, you may discover the enchantment that makes Ireland so captivating.
And remember, Blarney is a spot where myth and legend await. If you enjoyed this installment, then here are some other ramblings you might enjoy …. Barley Cove Beach, County Cork. Irish Famine Burial Pits in Skibbereen. I've partnered with the good folks at Gifts of Ireland to bring you a little piece of Ireland.
Let's explore our Irish heritage together with hand picked Irish gifts. Hi Rosy - Thanks for your kind words about my website. It's a nice way to share a few Irish stories with those who love Ireland like I do. Thanks so much for stopping by. Thank you for today's blog. I was fortunate enough to visit Blarney Castle in and spent many wonderful hours there. The gardens are beautiful as well, and the poison garden is quite interesting.
Thanks for bringing back the memories! Hi Janine - It's great that this little blog post kindled such lovely memories for you. The gardens at Blarney are lovely, for sure. Glad to hear you were lucky to visit Ireland in Loved this post! Recommended for you. How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland. Why do some people call it soccer? Why do people knock on wood for luck?
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