Day 22 A Load of Blarney

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After a slow start to the day we eventually made our way to Blarney Castle, around a 20 minute drive from Kelvin and Olivia’s house. Blarmey Castle of course is best known for the Blarmey Stone which has the “proven” ability to bestow Eloquence on any mere mortal who puckers up to it. There is much folklore about the origins of the Blarmey Stone, some say it is a piece of the Stone of Scone given to Ireland by Robert the Bruce for providing 5,000 soldiers for defeat of the English at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 but the best story is that of the Chieftan of the Castle who was going through some personal issues happened to come across a fairy in his garden who told him there is a stone in his castle that if kissed will give him the power of persuasion to overcome his problems.

So it was in anticipation of a potential life changing experience that we climbed the castle spiral staircase to the top of the Banquetting Hall, assumed the position on our back and each planted sloppy kisses on the moist rock. Tish was pretty much unchanged from the event but over the course of the next few hours experienced her health rapidly deteorating but something magic happened to Andrew. The once shy and assuming husband is now fully Elequoent within minutes of stepping from the castle front door. He is now talking the toungues off the Irish. After the castle, we took a stroll around the castle gardens taking in the castle lake, the imposing Blarmey House and the infamous Poison Garden where Tish was able to jot down a number of hints for condiments for future lunch and dinner tuckers.

Given Tish’s deteriorating health, we picked up some salmon and coffee from a supermarket on the way back to Kevin and Olivia’s.

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Photos

Blarmey Castle
Where two rivers meet - the rare occurrence of one river passes underneath another at Blarmey Castle

Blarmey Castle
Tish grabs her first view of Blarmey Castle from the castle gardens

Blarmey Castle
Down in the dungeons of Blarmey Castle

Blarmey Castle
Blarmey Castle in full view

Blarney Castle
Andrew takes in the ambience of Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle
A view of Blarmey from the castle windows

Blarney Castle
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna kiss the stone

Blarney Castle
Tish climbing the stairs to the Blarney Stone

Blarmey Castle
A Room with a View - view of Blarmey Village from the castle wall

Blarmey Castle
Tish inside the Blarmey Castle Banquetting Hall

Blarmey Castle
Tish outside Blarmey House

Blarney Castle
Tish takes in the water Lillie’s on the Blarmey Castle Lake

Blarney Castle
Tish envisions the great balls which would have occurred in the Blarmey Castle Banquetting Hall

Blarney Castle
Tish gets some hints using Rhubarb in the poison garden at Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle
Tish gets the lowdown on the Poison Garden at Blarney Castle.

Blarney Castle
The Blarney Stone in full view as Tish prepares to pucker up to it.

Blarney Castle
Tish prepares to kiss the famous stone

Blarney Castle
Tish assumes the position

Blarney Castle
A KISS from TISH - the best smooch the stone has had since Winston Churchill assumed the position

Blarney Castle
Andrew emerges from kissing the grimey stone full of eloquence

Comments

[Barbara]

hi
This blog was so funny. So Andrew we will be expecting you to talk non stop when you get back ha ha. My friend Pauline also kissed the blarney stone, don't think it did much for her tho ! I wrote at length on another blog but don't know if it was sent as didn't give me any indication so not going to say much more incase this doesn't go thru either. enjoy the rest of your travels & take care. Enjoying all the blog & photo's x