In County Cork, Ireland, in the town of Blarney rests an ancient castle.
It sits on 60 acres of land 10 km northwest of the city of Cork.
The building looks quite intact from the exterior, although the interior was mostly hollowed out long ago.
Atop this four-story tall rectangular castle is a battlement or parapet open to the elements.
In the year 1446, a chunk of limestone was embedded into one wall on the battlement.
There are several legends about how and why the stone was placed there and where it came from and what it is for.
The least absurd explanation: the Lord of Blarney, Cormac McCarthy, owned the castle, and Queen Elizabeth I wanted to take it from him. McCarthy wanted to plead his case to the Queen but was not much of a speaker. He encountered an elderly woman who told him to kiss a stone built into his castle, and that would endow him with uncommon eloquence. He then persuaded the Queen to not take his property.
According to legend, anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone will acquire the gift of gab.
People come from all over the world to kiss the stone.
After paying the entrance fee, visitors climb the uneven stone stairs to the top of the castle.
A queue forms around the battlement with each person waiting his or her turn to kiss the stone.
But it’s not just a matter of approaching the limestone, pressing one’s lips against it, and marching on. It’s slightly more complicated than that.
The legendary stone is embedded on the bottom portion of a wall beneath an overhang.
In order to access the stone, each visitor must lay down on one’s back at a specific angle and location. Then one’s head dangles over an open space with nothing but the ground below.
A guide is on hand to assist and keep the line moving.
One at a time, person after person rests on their back to kiss the stone. Then they are helped to their feet, walk down the stone stairs, and move on. Visitors can then enjoy the lovely surrounding gardens.
That’s basically the entire experience.
Staff members routinely wash the stone to remove germs.
Currently, the castle and grounds employ 90 people.
Blarney Castle first became a tourist attraction in 1823.
About 200,000 tourists visit the castle annually.
It is open every day except Christmas, rain or shine, from 9 am to 4 pm.
NOTE:
I have kissed the Blarney Stone.
It’s one of the most ridiculous tourist things I’ve ever done.
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