Ireland Blarney Castle

Kissing the Blarney Stone is a hot bucket list item. Can’t say i thought too much about what it meant though. Something about the gift of the gab ?

blarney-castle-look-to-the-centre-high-on-the-left-to-see-the-access-to-the-blarney-stone

Anyway, Blarney Castle was on my visit list, and it did not disappoint. Much more interactive than a lot of other closed off Castle visits. As you approach, there are caves at the base, and in you go, not roped off, wet floors, low ceiling, and went quite a way in. This setup what more was to come.

The gardens are special on their own, with many witch references, nicely signposted to tell you the background of what you are seeing. The Poison Garden was also different.

So comes the time to enter the Castle, and join the procession to the top, where you get the Kiss and Photo opportunity. Simple, right ? ummm. Stairs lead to a landing, where you can wander around some original condition rooms; then onto the spiral stone staircase. Grab the vertical rope running down the centre, and climb, and more, and more and all I could think was “are we there yet ?” as the stairs got steeper and narrower.

You finally emerge at the top to fantastic views (hope it’s not raining as it’s all exposed) and make your way around the circumference to the pace where 1 person helps you turn upside down and stretch over the edge, while the other takes your photo, for sale on your exit of the Castle.

Quite a lot of people were more than a bit uncomfortable about being inverted and dangled over an edge backwards, but that’s what the staff member was there to assist with, holding tight.

So Kissing the Blarney Stone was a “different” experience, but Blarney Castle was a wonderful explore, walk, and visit.