Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle - Photo ©
Shadowgate, 1 Sep. 2008

Blarney Castle - Photo ©
Lawmurray, 22 Feb. 2008

Blarney Castle - Photo ©
Shadowgate, 1 Sep. 2008

Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the McCarthy clan and dates from 1446. The noted Blarney Stone is found among the machicolations of the castle.

History

The castle originally dates from before AD 1200, when a wooden structure was built on the site. Around 1210 A.D. this was replaced by a stone fortification. It was destroyed in 1446, but subsequently rebuilt by Cormac MacCarthy - then King of Munster.^[1]

Blarney House, County Cork - Photo ©
Adam Quinan, 17 August 2006

The castle was besieged during the Irish Confederate Wars and was seized in 1646 by Parliamentarian forces under Lord Broghill. However after the Restoration the castle was restored to Donough MacCarty, who was made 1st Earl of Clancarty.^[2]

During the Williamite War in Ireland in the 1690s, the then 4th Earl of Clancarty (also named Donough MacCarty) was captured and his lands (including Blarney Castle) were confiscated by the Williamites.

The castle was sold and changed hands a number of times before being purchased by Sir James St. John Jefferyes.

Members of the Jefferyes family would later build a mansion near the keep. This house was destroyed by fire however, and in 1874 a replacement baronial mansion - known as Blarney House - was built overlooking the nearby lake.

Tourism

The Blarney Stone - Photo ©
Alan Heardman, 20 April 2008

The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. There are many legends as to the origin of the stone, but some say that it was the Lia Fáil—a magical stone upon which Irish kings were crowned.

Blarney Castle, County Cork - Photo ©
Heather Elias, 31 December 2007

Blarney Castle, County Cork - Photo ©
Urban Hafner, 29 August 2006

Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as several natural rock formations which have been given fanciful names, such as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps. Blarney House, also open to the public, is a Scottish baronial-style mansion that was built on the grounds in 1874.

References

^ Inscription on machicolation reads "Cormac Macarthy fortis me fieri facit AD 1446"
^ Adams, C. L.. "Castles of Ireland; some fortress histories and legends" Fredonia. ISBN 1410103005.

Samuel, Mark; Hamlyn, Kate (2007). Blarney Castle: Its History, Development and Purpose. Cork University. ISBN 9781859184110.

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