When visiting Cork, a day trip to Blarney Castle is good value and a lot of fun. The castle, famous for its Blarney Stone, which when kissed is said to bestow the gift of eloquence is one of many fine attractions inside the several hectares of gardens.
The best way to travel to Blarney Castle from Cork is by bus. The 215 leaves every 30 minutes from Merchant’s Quay during the day, the bus stop is just west of the bus station.
A return journey costs around €7 for an adult and takes 25 minutes. Your driver may call out that you’ve reached the castle when you arrive, but be prepared to get off when you reach the centre of Blarney village, just past the Woolen Mills on your left.
Entrance to the castle and gardens is just past the village green. It costs €12 for an adult, with concessions available. This grants access to the castle and all of the gardens. Entrance to Blarney House, including a guided tour costs an extra €5. This isn’t advertised very well, so be prepared for this cost if you want to have a look inside the house.
There are a number of walks around the gardens marked on the map and signposted at appropriate points. The walks take between 30 and 90 minutes. In my experience this is quite accurate for a decent paced walk with a few stops for photographs. The Woodland walk is the longest and is well worth trying out. It will take you past the brilliant Fern Garden, which features some magnificent palms and ferns and a waterfall, invoking feelings that you’ve stepped in to Jurassic Park.
The walk is not heavily populated and its easy to feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. Make sure you have some water and a sturdy pair of shoes for this one. The lakeside walk is a little disappointing due to there not being many places to get a close view of the lake.
The castle itself is the main attraction and you’ll find most people congregating around this area. The castle is part ruin and care should be taken while inside, particularly due to the steep and narrow staircases that it is necessary to climb to reach the top. The castle is dotted with information boards explaining what each of the rooms was for. As you climb, there are also increasingly good views of the gardens and surrounding countryside from the many windows.
When you reach the top, it is possible to kiss the Blarney Stone. According to legend, kissing the stone will bestow eloquence upon an individual. Otherwise knows as ‘the gift of the gab’. Be aware, this is not for the feint hearted. The wall that the stone is a part of is set a few inches away from the parapet’s edge, with a clear view of the 100ft drop to the ground. Safety measures are in place to prevent a fall and an assistant will guide you as you lean backwards over the edge, grabbing a set of iron rails to get into position to kiss the stone. Official pictures are available as a souvenir and its possible to take your own as well.
Next to the castle is Rock Close, which features some entertaining attractions, including a Druidic sacrificial altar, Witch's kitchen, boardwalk and the giant Dolmen rock, which is said to still rock in place across a small walkway.
After your visit, it’s worth stopping in to one of the few pubs in the area for a drink or something to eat. The Muskerry Arms has good food, a wide selection of beers and friendly staff. Don’t be afraid to hang around for a few hours as buses back to Cork run until around 11pm.
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