The alluring mythology surrounding Blarney Castle makes it
the stuff of dreams. Most likely, it will be one of the first things anyone
planning a visit to Ireland
will bring to mind. The castle is located in Cork
County upon
"otherworldly" beautiful gardens and grounds that add mystery to the
excursion.
First, for the aspiring traveling historian, a little background: The
original edifice on this site was begun in the 1100s and was constructed of
wood, only to be redone in impregnable stone in the early 13th century. The
third fortress to be constructed was begun in 1446 by a member of the McCarthy
family, who became owners of the castle. In the 1800s, yet another castle was
rebuilt on this whimsical site by Lady Colthurst, and renovations were finished
in 1874.
The official name for the Blarney Stone, the very emblem of Irish mysticism,
is the "Stone of Eloquence." Planting a kiss on this famous piece of
history is supposed to give the traveler the ability of graceful speech. This,
however, is not all there is to see at Blarney
Castle. The "Rock Close"
is a magnificent garden strewn with rock formations that bring Druid circles to
mind. Many of the garden's trees have without a doubt weathered many centuries.
Sir James St. John Jefferyes brought his own contribution to the ancient
castle, a house added onto Blarney's keep. What was not
obliterated by a fire in the last century can still be seen by the tourist
population.
If an added flair of mystery is your thing, try one of Blarney
Castle's journeys to Celtic
mysticism; walk backwards down the Wishing Steps to achieve your heart's
desires! Druids' caves and fairy glades make these ancient grounds a spiritual
haven. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the only times the castle is not
open, so whatever time you have in Ireland, make sure you spend some of it at
Blarney Castle!
Next stop in Ireland:
Bunratty Castle.
This great hulking tower, the fourth castle to stand in this spot, had a very
humble birth. Robert de Muscegros constructed a mound with a wooden tower in
the mid 1200s. When his property was taken over by a Frenchman called Thomas de
Clare, a stone edifice grew up over the older fortifications. Although the
castle met its untimely death in 1318 due to cultural feuds, it was eventually
rebuilt - and again destroyed – then rebuilt by Sir Thomas Rokeby. The castle
that stands now was the brainchild of the MacNamara's. Bunratty holds the
distinction for being Ireland's
best historically accurate fortress, as its insides are reconstructed to hold
the same splendor as they did in the olden days.
Some interesting features that the visitor will note are the Main Guard, a
luxurious hall with a tiny entrance to the dungeon; the North Solar, which
contains a table that is rumored to have been taken from a Spanish Armada
wreck; the Great Hall which was used by the Earls of Thomond to entertain; and
the Earl's bedroom, restored to its original grandeur. Also, for Bunratty's own
little slice of the bizarre, see the "Murder Holes," where boiling
oil was poured on unfortunate attackers.
For a fun addition, the visitor to Bunratty may want to spend awhile at Bunratty
Folk Park.
It is a living history museum with recreated buildings showing how all classes
of Irish families in the Victorian era lived and worked. Trades are
demonstrated by the park's participants, and people in traditional dress bring
alive the different jobs one in 19th century Bunratty would have had. Bunratty
Castle and Folk
Park are both located between the
picturesque points of Shannon and Limerick.