One of my fondest memories is my visit to the Ireland and the Blarney Stone. Did it give me the gift of the gab?
My dad always tells me that I don’t have to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day because we’re Irish and that means we have the map of Ireland imprinted on our skulls.
Not gonna lie – that image used to freak me out as a child.
I’m pretty proud of my Irish heritage – and I was pretty pumped a few years ago when I visited my family’s origins, County Cork.
County Cork is also home to one of the most-talked about landmarks in the world: the Blarney Stone.
The Blarney Stone is contained in the walls of the Blarney Castle. It’s said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are blessed with the gift of the gab. I’m more comfortable writing than talking a lot, so I wanted to check it out for myself.
Here’s what I didn’t know: It’s a really, really long way to the top. The only way to get to the top – and to the Blarney Stone – is to climb the winding stairs. Not so bad, right? It is if you’re tall – the pathways gets smaller and smaller as you get to the top. At 6′ tall, I had to crouch down to get there.
And the actual kissing part? Well, you need to be flexible, literally – visitors must lie down and arch themselves backwards to get to the stone. It’s kind of scary, especially because there’s a gap between the wall and the platform. Don’t worry, you won’t fall – there’s an attendant there to help you rearch the Blarney Stone and stay safe.
So, did I get the gift of the gab from kissing the Blarney Stone? Well, sorta – but I’m still more comfortable writing than talking.
However, I left there pretty grossed out – after all, thousands of people kiss that stone each year, and I’m pretty sure they don’t sanitize it. Yuck.
Have you ever visited the Blarney Stone and Blarney Castle? How was your experience?
More St. Patrick’s Day
Travel Ireland and take a hawk walk
Visit Raithlin Island in Northern Ireland
Test your St. Patrick’s Day history skills
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