Ireland - Gift of Blarney

We made it to the Blarney castle with a mere 1 hour to spare! Now the was the #1 spot on my Ireland list. We checked into our hotel and mentioned our plan to see it the next day to the guy checking us in. He said but it I only 5 minutes from here you should go now. It was about 4:30pm the weather nice so we dropped our luggage off in the room and went. "5 minutes" was not exactly accurate more like an Irish 5 min or 30 - 45 min. Especially since it was Saturday night. We got there and were happy to see they close at 6:00pm and not 5. The ticket lady told us to go straight to the castle. We did.

Gorgeous old castle in a state of ruin that amazes me they still let us walk around inside. The steps are well worn. You wind up and up lopsided narrow steep stone steps. They put a thick rope in place to give us balance challenged a hand hold. Every 'floor' level you could turn off. They labeled the empty room what it once was. No furniture sits in this home which is likely for safety. You can still see where years of heavy weighted stuff as worn away the stone flooring. First level up was a ladies bedroom/ priest room you can still look out the window and imagine sitting getting ready by candlelight go bed. Next level the kitchen you can look up the chimney and imagine how warm preparing all the meals must have made this tight stone space. The adjacent dining hall is gone. The floor having given way likely a generation ago. We are about 2 or3 levels up imagine bringing the casks of wine/beer from the basement to the master's table. It must have taken forever to maneuver or maybe there were other steps to use. Next level has no floor like the dining area only the outcropping where it once was attached. The floor in likely rotted away being wood. This level was the chapel.

Still up ever more to the top. You can look out and see your world spread out around you. I'm sure the view today is different from centuries ago. The trees that have grown thick and tall, the houses and modern life spotting this view bringing the tourist back to modern day

And the mission that brought you here. Eloquence! The GIF of gab. Now you can ask my mom - I have NEVER suffered from tongue tied silence. But I did climb all the way up this castle.

The Blarney stone is not just sitting there ready for you to kiss. No it hangs down a hole the only way to reach your lips to it is on your back arched over the edge. Yes this is 4-5 levels high. This is hanging off the top of a castle in ruins! Photo from below.

Today they have some safety measures in place : 1 - a grat. Really three rusty bars to likely slow your descent down but they surely won't stop you change or glasses or pocket fillers from crashing to the bottom. 2 - a camera to take your photo. There is a before and during or maybe it is during and after photos you can purchase one for €10 both for €18. 3 - two men one to help hold you if need be one to trigger the camera. 6 - a hat to toss a tip in. Hey if they keep you from falling a euro is the least you could give right? 5 - mats of padding and a slick one for sliding back. I'm glad I couldn't see the smoothly worn and indented stone you lie on.

Finally you are there. Standing above this open space you can't even see the stone. You lie back. Reach for the handholds. Pull yourself back. Arching your back. Extending your neck and then you see it. A smooth stone, darker than tge rest. Only made impressive by how far down and back it is. You slide further back arch more grip the rails a bit tighter and purse your lips. One quick moment your lips make contact with the cold hard stone and then you slide back and are upright again. The whole thing over in a minute or two.

Now the descent down. There is a different staircase. It is still narrow. The steps still worn and smooth. But here is a handrail. There are still outcroppings. Small wedge like rooms with a tiny window where the fading light casts shadows about. A little indented area with flue makes me think this is where you placed your candle. Maybe the window is how you emptied the chamber pot? Likely a servants room? Imagine navigating this barrow walk way in the dark? One hand holding a flickering candle the other guiding you. We continued down and soon were out to explore the gardens. The up/down and kiss felt like it took hours but was only 30-45 minutes (an Irish 5 minutes).

Still time to explore the garden.

Beautiful grounds. Next time I will have more time to explore the surrounding area and maybe kiss the stone again.