About Blarney Castle

Everyone knows when you visit Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. But do you know why? The term “Blarney” means to be blessed with a compelling talk, that is flattering as also intelligent. So anyone who does the act of kissing the stone would be blessed with eloquence in speech coupled with a flattering vocabulary. Some legends say the stone was the one on which the Irish kings were once crowned. 

The original wood castle predates this by 200 years but was destroyed in 1446. The Blarney Stone was set into the foundation of the reconstruction. This Blarney Castle was built by the McCarthys of Muskerry. Battles were fought and the castle was captured and sold numerous times. The Blarney House nearby was built in 1874 by one of the last families to own the property. 

Although the Blarney Castle is partially in ruins, the tall stone walls, battlements, turrets, and stairs lend a magnificent air to the surrounding gardens. Many plants not ordinarily associated with a castle garden grow here including cannabis, opium, mandrake, and wolfsbane. Keep your distance as some of them are poisonous. 

Must See

  • Tunnel cave under the castle
  • Gardens and trails, including the Poison Garden and Bog Garden.
  • Legend of the Blarney Stone
  • Blarney House

How to reach

By Bus:

Take Line 215 Bus from Watercourse Road towards Barley Village.

By Walking:

Walk around 613 meters from Barley Village to Blarney Castle.

Tips

  • Carry a rain jacket.
  • And make sure you have proper footwear since there are a lot of stones inside the castle and the stairs can be slippery. 
  • Best time to visit the castle is early in the day or late in the afternoon.
  • The Castle and gardens are open throughout the year but the closing times keeps on changing which is mostly 6:00 p.m.
  • It is advisable to purchase tickets online.
  •  No bicycles, scooters, rollerblades or ball games are allowed within the park.
  • Dogs are not allowed to enter from the 1st March 2018  but still guide dogs and care dogs are welcome.
  • Visiting times are subject to change due to bad weather or poor light

Visit Time

Sunday:                  09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

Monday:                 09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

Tuesday:                09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

Wednesday:           09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

Thursday:               09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

Friday:                    09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

Saturday:                09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.

 

Time Icon

Waiting Time

No waiting

 

Entrance Fee Icon

Entrance Fee

No

 

Time you can spend Icon

Time you can spend

2 to 3 hours

 

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Weather

Mist 14.66°C

 

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