Blarney Castle was fun and hokey. For those of you on the tour bus route - don't worry it will be included. For the rest of us, not on buses, it's filled with somewhat oblivious Americans. I have heard local rumors of the horrendous things the Irish do to that stone when you're not looking, but I don't want to think about it. Kissing the stone is a "must do" only to say you've done it. Be prepared to wait in line for at least 15-30 mins to kiss the stone. As far as castles go, this one is just an eh. The surrounding grounds are much more interesting than the castle itself. I would def go if you're in the area, but wouldn't drive way out of the way for it. read more

Best part was not waiting in line to kiss the stone. Most over rated feature. Enjoy the grounds especially the poison garden but don't waste your time climbing up. There are signs posted in queue line to let one know how long before getting to top. If time permits visit the nearby woolen store for some shopping. Small cafe on castle grounds or eat at the woolen store. read more

May be one of the tourist things that you can't miss, but it's gotten horrifyingly commercialized. The guy who holds you to kiss the stone sounds exactly like he's tired of doing what he's done tens of thousands of times, and the photo setup and grab bars sort of rob the magic. I'd still say do it because it's THE Blarney stone, but also don't get your hopes too high for an experience you'll reflect fondly on forever. read more

My advice...get to the Blarney Stone early!! It fills up sooo fast. We got there before it opened and we were the first to go in. It was cool to explore the castle before a lot of people were there. As we were walking out, buses full of people were beginning to come in. There is no way you can come all the way to Ireland from the states and not do this. Sure, it's touristy and crowded and a bit expensive, but you will never again have a chance to do this. While the castle and the stone were largely what I expected, what I did not expect was how expansive and beautiful the rest of the grounds were. You can spend hours here and it would be time well spent. Its quite accessible from Cork City Bus station. There are buses every hour to and from Blarney. The return tickets costs about 6 Euro. The castle entrance is few steps from the bus station. There is also a large parking lot if you have your own ride. Admission was 10 Euro in 2006. read more

Perhaps more like 3.5 stars. There is nothing wrong with Blarney Castle... I just suppose it was a bit hyped up, so I felt let down when I got there. I'd say, if you're in Cork, go to Barney Castle for a morning or afternoon, walk around the grounds, explore the castle, and see the stone. Just don't make a trip the whole way there solely for the purpose of kissing the Blarney Stone. It's a nice castle, but Ireland has many other nice castles, landmarks, and historic sights. I'd suggest going to Dublin, Galway, or the south-west instead. read more

I love this place it was really fun. Yes it is touristy so if you aren't interested in that I wouldn't go. The employees are very nice they let my friend and I keep our bags in their office while we went up to the castle. It was a very pretty walk to the actual castle. When you get to the castle you have to walk up a lot of steps its not very easy the steps are kind of sketchy also. Anyway you can get your picture kissing the blarney stone. Then there is a couple other buildings to see as well I recommend giving yourself about two or three hours to really be able to see everything. read more

Blarney Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blarney, Colorado

See all

as you approach the grounds, there's a multitude of paths you can take G. and i wandered into some caves that are oddly reminiscent of an early rendition of the bat cave then we waltzed around some trails and herb/poison gardens (they grow absinthe?!) before we came upon the castle itself the size of the castle is quite standard...small steps and high walls....but the main attraction is of course the blarney rock! it's rumored that if you kiss this rock, your sweet talking talents will grow exponentially there's one catch...you better practice some yoga moves because a two guys are there to hold onto you as you LITERALLY bend over backwards to *SMACK* a sloppy one on this rock...no worries, your friends and family will laugh as they take a picture of the action G. and i...being the germaphobes that we are...opted out of the kissing part and just observed the other people along the route...can't say we regretted it we took another route on our exit and walked through a very calming garden over a lake w/ flowing waters...the zig-zag layout of the walkway reminded me of traditional asian gardens =) beautiful rolling greens like the rest of ireland! =) read more

A pretty interesting castle but to be honest I only went there to kiss the Blarney Stone. was worth it.

Gardens....outstanding. Arrive 15 mins before opening to beat the hordes and to enjoy the space with a modicum of tranquillity. Fewer crowds makes it easier and more enjoyable to climb the castle and kiss the Blarney Stone. Has it given me the "gift of the gab"? Well, maybe it takes a few hours to sink in! read more

Blarney Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blarney, Colorado

See all

Absolutley great, its a must going here the views and the castle. would go early though, can get very crowded. The park around it is so beautiful.I will def. come here again. read more

Came here in late October 2016 and was immediately surprised and delighted by how they just let you wander, no people telling you to keep out of the grassy areas or poison garden (yes, there really is a poison garden, marijuana is one of the many plants in it, so it's a different attitude than California or Oregon as far as how to classify). If you are afraid of heights, don't go in the castle the passages are narrow and the stairs are steep and they really do just trust you. Plan on spending the day here, if you can, there's so much to see if you like walking. The grounds extend to an expansive lake, a second estate (where the owner's decided to live for real, deciding castles actually are pretty drafty), there's a huge flower garden, farms on the grounds and the best bookstore: coffee house and wool for sale in the area. I kept expecting a 'tourism' mark up, but really didn't see that in these places compared to out of the way places. Also, the surrounding restaurants are the best in the area. Just not the Chinese food. Don't try it here, it's served with fries?! Finally, I don't know if it's because it was October, but there were never crowds like in other touristy things to see in other countries. We kind of felt like we had a castle for the day. read more

See all

Blarney Castle is sublime.The views of the Cork country side from the top of the castle are quite simply amazing. The Blarney stone is here and ok you have to lean over a ledge to kiss the stone, I kissed the stone and now feel sure that the stone definitely explains my persuasive skills or my ability to win most arguments, or so I like to think.. read more

My partner and I really enjoyed this place. A MUST see if you are visiting Ireland! P.S. Ensure you are out of the grounds and parking lot at/or before closing time. After a worker chased us down the castle before closing time (we were last ones in the castle) My partner and I were wondering off and did not realize that they had closed the grounds. They closed the grounds and parking lot with us in there!!! We eventually figured out how to get out of there. read more

This place is amazing. Beautiful beyond words. Kissing the stone was fun but the real treasure is the grounds and water. Such a great place to spend the day, even in the rain. I would recommend everyone come here. If you have disabilities or it is hard for you to walk up steep small stairs going to the top and kissing he stone may not be for you. read more

See all

I'm local, and had only been here as a child. I went again recently with some visiting friends and it's great fun. The best bit definitely being kissing the Blarney Stone - it's a lot scarier than I remember. But I've done it now, and have the gift of the gab. The view from the top is spectacular too, especially for visitors, and there are some lovely walks in the grounds. read more

If you are touring around Ireland then do make a stop here. The Castle has been preserved as best possible & is very informative about the history of it, including all the different rooms that once were. And of course there's the blarney stone to be kissed & captured on camera on the top of the castle! But just as interesting is the surrounding grounds/gardens, which have different sections like the fairy garden or the rock close to explore - which I personally found more fun & interesting than the actual castle! Great place to visit for couples, friends & families! read more

It's interesting and you lead back on a bar and kiss the stone while you get your picture taken. Honestly unless you are obsessed with kissing the stone and Ireland. Skip it. read more

Don't let smug travelers talk you out of this. You must experience for yourself. The castle wasn't on our itinerary but we fit it in and I am glad we did. The gardens were beautiful and the castle was as cool as it gets. read more

Went to Ireland in August 2010 on a coach holiday. We were staying in Killarney, but we had excersion days and one of them was to Blarney Castle and Cork. Blarney Castle is georgious, it realy is and the grounds around it are so beautiful. Unfortunately we only had a hour there so didnt get my chance to kiss the stone as there was a massive que, but will deffinately be going back to give it a big kiss. Well worth a visit read more

This is considered another tourist trap but I am very very glad we all kissed the famous Blarney Stone. The wait was only 20-25 min. The castle is a constructed work of art and the views from the top of the castle are beautiful. Highly recommend kissing the stone for the gift of gab! read more

See all

Tourists trap? Ya, but if you don't go you've missed something awesome! The grounds are beautiful and half of the attraction, the trails and gardens do not disappoint .... So GO! I read about long lines and we hit traffic on the way so I believe we just missed those large tour buses that drive most visitors around. We got there about 3:00pm and several buses are loading people up, when we got to the bottom of the castle a sign said 1 hour wait to kiss the stone. There was no wait for us, we almost had the castle to our selves and explored taking our time getting to the top. When it was my turn to kiss the Blarney Stone I was so excited but as I went down backwards I could see the ground far beneath me and screamed out "OH S*#T!!!! " And a few more bad words... it was scarier than I expected but well worth it! I also entertained the Irish guys manning the stone. Being Irish I believe I was born with the gift to gab but now I'm certain I've got it! read more

See all

The stone that gives you the "gift of the gab". It is the highest tower of Blarney castle, and you are asked to lean over the edge, hold on to the iron bars, and to tilt your head back to kiss the stone.They take photos of you, which you can purchase from the gift store below -which on the time of me going was about 18.00 euros for 2 pics :) Its a beautiful view from the top of the castle,as the whole castle is built on a hill, with a fair walk to the castle from the car park, but you do cross over a little river/stream. The place really is beautiful and well worth a visit! read more

Love this place!! Who wouldn't want the gift of gab!! Tiny stairs to get up to the top but the views and grounds are beautiful!!! Definitely check it out :) read more

I've always imagined what Blarney Castle and the whole stone experience must be like, and after actually experiencing it, it was more awe-inspiring than I could have imagined. My first shock was that this is by no means a castle in the Disney sense. This is a stone fortress complete with dungeons and perches off which one could throw hot cooking grease onto intruders. But what it lacks in decor it more than makes up for in history. Blarney Castle offers visitors a glimpse into the distant past of Ireland as well as the most aesthetically pleasing nature vistas in the country (or at least what I saw of it!). Now on to the stone kissing. The trek up 127 steep, slippery steps was one of the most terrifying experience of my life. The steps are extremely narrow and steep, and wind all the way up the side of the castle. The replacement of a railing with a rope means you are pretty much rappelling up an ancient stone structure, which can be a bit intimidating. I hyperventilated a few times due to my fear of non-traditional steps (weird I know) but thankfully there were a few alcoves where you could step out of the stairwell and get your bearings again. I thought, being a world renowned tourist destination, that there would be a crazy line, but I think I waited three minutes to kiss the stone. I was a bit apprehensive at first to kiss the stone since I heard locals pee on it when the tourists go home,but what the hell, YOLO! Hanging backwards and upside down off the side of a castle was definitely an experience, and pee or no pee, I'm glad I did it. For €10 you can buy a photo of your stone kissing g experience,but take my word for it, it is the most unflattering pose EVER I bought mine, but it will never see the light of day. Anyway, Blarney is a must for any tourist, and certainly one of the highlights of my trip. read more

Just do it. Yes, it's cheesy and honestly a little weird but you have to kiss the stone. As many others have said, the grounds and staff are lovely. read more

i thought this was completely overrated and quite frankly a waste of time. dont make the mistake we did and go all the over there just for the castle/stone. after paying the roundtrip train ride, then roundtrip bus ride, then entrance fee, i was almost 100 euro negative. you have to walk quite a bit to get to the castle, and then hike up a tight circular stairwell for what seemed like forever. i was winded when i reached the top adn decided against kissing the stone, i really dont need more gift of gab. lolll.. i think everyone would kill me if i talked more!! i guess if you are staying nearby and make a day out of walking thru the grounds, its alright. but there are much better things to do and see in ireland!! read more

This is in the Blarney Castle Hotel. It was recommended to us, and turned out delicious! We had "Chish and Fips"...loved the fresh salad on the side, and the steak special. The bread was good, seafood chowder was good, and we also shared a berry cobbler with ice cream! It was perfect! read more

I didn't know much about this place other than it has a stone that people from all over come to kiss in order to get the '"gift of gab". I was more than pleasantly surprised on how cool this place is. The grounds are gorgeous with green everywhere and a little stream running right through. The castle itself was awesome and rich with history. The trek up to the top floor of the castle in order to get to the stone is not for people with small children nor people with problems being in small places with a lot of people. It was like walking up a lighthouse but with uneven steps everywhere and zero headroom haha. Even though I am a huge "germ-a-phob" I had to kiss the stone and it was hard to do as you need to lay on your back and bend backwards just to reach it. Overall a really fun experience that I will never forget. read more

"You kiss the stone like you kiss your mom... a quick peck. If someone want to swap spit with you, they would do it in person, not via the stone," instructed me. Yup, that is what I tell my students when doing their trip briefing for Ireland (you're welcome!). Unfortunately not everyone heeds to those guidelines. The Irish are smart... regardless of whether the story behind the stone is true, they have capitalized on it and as a result, you can hear more American accents than Irish accents in this area. My countrymen eat this up. In fact when we changed our Ireland trip to go to the west coast to see the Cliffs of Moher and spare the students a little less time on the coach, our numbers for the trip dropped and the most common remark on the survey... "I wanted to see the Blarney Stone." Thus, I gave in, Blarney Stone, here we come! I have been to Blarney Castle three times, don't worry, I only kissed the stone once. I will say, yes it is a tourist dream and trap, but there is more to the place than just the stone and this is a more accessible castle for some tourists than other castles, and let's be honest, if it brings money to the poor Irish economy, then, really, who are we to argue. My tips: 1) if you are not part of a tourist group, but you do want to stop and see what the fuss is about, go as soon as they open... seriously. If you want to beat all the tourist groups, go early. 2) if you do want to acquire the gift of eloquence (or gab), then go straight for the stone first, then go exploring. The thing is that once the tourist groups get there, you are going to have to wait in line. Having seen the demographics of these tourist groups, many are pensioners and well... they move slow or have difficulty moving... you don't want to get stuck behind them. 3) while the cafes in the car park for the castle are nice for a cuppa, I would recommend going into town if you want a meal. Yes, you'll probably run into a tourist or two, but you're not going to have to fight the crowds. Now, back to the part about the stone not being the only attraction... the grounds of the castle are fairly large and provide a lovely setting for a casual walk. The castle itself is fun to roam around because it is a ruined castle. While it has a bit of mystery to it (I think that about most ruined things), it also has an air of adventure and encourages visitors to explore, climb, wander, touch. If you have a fear of heights, the fact that the top of the castle is quite open may be and issue for you. This also applies to kissing the stone, which is actually at the top of the castle. And the method for kissing the stone... you lay on your back on a rubber mat, while one of the staff sits next to you holding you, as you grab the handles on the stone and kiss. Easy for very tall people... I had a student who was about 6'3", 6'4" and when he laid down, he actually hit his head on the stone. I am 5'9" and I had to stretch a bit to plant a smootch. What is a little unnerving is the fact that you can see all the way to the bottom of the castle when you are laying upside down. Now, if you don't have anyone that can take a picture of you with your camera, there is a staff member who takes a picture, but you have to buy it downstairs if you want it. Make sure that you bring sturdy shoes with a grip, as they do not call it the Emerald Isle for nothing, and that means that the stones of the castle do get quite slippery. And if you are thinking Chucks (Converse), think again. I did that and nearly bit it a number of times. When you are finished, there is a Blarney Woolen Mill shop and it is quite (American quite) large. You could get just about anything here. There is a clothing shop inside that I like... when they have nice things. It is expensive though. They have souvenirs, children's clothing, women's clothing, t-shirts for men, crystal, china, music, housewares, and candy. Try the Emeralds, Chocolate covered caramels... a favourite among my students as I purchase a canister to throw out during our coach quiz (think Pub Quiz on a coach) on the Ring of Kerry. There are public toilets in the cafe across the way and a couple of ATMs just there in the car park. I don't know if I would drive out of my way to see it if I were touring the country in my own car, but if you feel the need to see it or if you are driving by, don't be ashamed to go... it is more than just a stone with tourist slobber on it afterall. read more

Beautiful grounds are worth the trip alone! Onsite cafés, too. The castle stairs to the Blarney Stone are quite steep, narrow, uneven and wet. Be sure you are physically able to do this and wear appropriate footwear. read more

The grounds are gorgeous. The castle itself is still beautiful. There are tons of photo opportunities. The climb to the top is a tad precarious but, if you are adventurous -you'll probably talk about this later and think to yourself, "that wasn't too bad". You will be climbing a circular, stone staircase that is quite narrow. There are ropes and railings to help you along the way. It's easier descending then ascending. You can do it if you're still able to climb your own stairs. Just take your time. There are places along the ascent to explore: the bedrooms, kitchen, dining room etc. Of course, these are all barren, empty stone rooms now. When you get to the top, you can decide for yourself whether or not to kiss the stone. There is an older gentleman up there who will help you (by holding you) while you are on your back, bent over backwards. There are a few iron railings in place to prevent you from falling through. It really wasn't that bad. Again, this is an enchanting place filled with beautiful visuals. read more

I came here because I heard they had the best chicken strips in the world. Not only did I not find the best chicken strips in the world, but they didn't have ANY CHICKEN STRIPS AT ALL. WTF! I know I'm not the only one in search of the best chicken strips in the world. This is a travesty for the country of Ireland. Where are the chicken strips? Because they're not at the Blarney Stone. read more

The castle, the house, the grounds, and yes, even the stone. We took it all in and had great fun at this famous site. We were fortunate to go at the very tail end of tourist season so the climb through Blarney Castle was fairly empty of people and there was no wait at the top to kiss the stone. So of course, we did. But I enjoyed the castle itself much more than getting to the top. There are many small rooms to explore, small passageways to venture through. Great views from the top though! We also enjoyed walking the grounds themselves- absoultely beautiful! The price was a bit steep I'd have to say but not surprising, as it is a big tourist area. read more

I've gone here twice in two consecutive years and the two times were totally different. The first time I visited was in July 2009. The line was INSANE, flowing outside of the castle. It either took us a half hour or an hour to get to the "stone." The steps can be VERY tiny at times - not recommended for people with health problems as there are a lot of steps, which are also unsafe at times. Your survival depends on a thick rope. Also while you're on your way up or down, you'll see some remains of rooms in the castle, so it's not totally about kissing a wall. Once you finally get to the sunlight you only have a little ways to go before you smooch. At this point you will see the view - don't worry, it's a good one. Most likely there will be wind blowing and you might get chills. Now you're getting closer. At this point you'll see that every few people, the attendants clean the wall. It doesn't take long to clean. I wore a lot of lip balm anyway. You'll also notice that they take your picture for you and you have the option of buying the picture when you get to the bottom of the castle. This is a great idea on their part for multiple reasons (no stupid tourists getting in the way, profit, etc.). But anyway, now it's your turn to kiss the stone. Basically you lay on your back and crane your neck upside down. That's my best way of describing it. The attendants will hold your back so you don't fall (there are grates!) while you're kissing the stone. You'll also hold onto two metal bars for support. They'll take your picture and you're done. The walk back down is a bit faster. Then you can see your picture and possibly buy it, if you'd like. This concludes the first time I visited Blarney Castle. We didn't have time to do anything else because the line had been so long. Before I forget, in case you didn't know, the stone is just a slab in the wall.. it's not really a separated stone; it's a part of the castle. Continuing on... The second time I went was in August 2010. This time there was literally no line. I have no idea why, although I know July is a popular month for people to travel, but I was totally shocked that there were only about 5 people kissing the stone this time. Naturally we wanted to go up to the castle again and see everything. Revisiting it was great. This time we went back down and toured the gardens and surrounding woodsy area. Most people overlook this because all they want to do is kiss the famous stone. But I think this part of the grounds should not be overlooked - there are all sorts of flowers, little gardens, etc. And kids will like this part too. They won't enjoy sitting in a line to kiss a rock that millions of other people have kissed, but they will enjoy climbing the staircase where you have to keep your eyes closed while you say a wish, for example. (Forget the exact name of this staircase but that's along the lines of the superstition that goes with it.) Overall, this is a pretty cool place! read more

A must if you're in Ireland. There is a reason why there are so many tourists here. We were here during the off season between Christmas and New Years and it was the busiest but coolest attraction. The grounds are beautiful. To get to the stone, you have to walk up a stairwell that is very winding and tight with steps that are not all even and there is a rope instead of a railing for the walk up. There is a bit of a line at the top to kiss the blarney stone and an employee holds you as you get onto your back and lean back to kiss the stone. I enjoyed the poison garden and rest of grounds almost as much as the castle itself. The Blarney house was beautiful but the inside disappointingly is closed until June. This attraction is more expensive than most at 12 euros a person. And then they try to get you to pay extra for a photo of you kissing the stone which we didn't do. read more

I was bracing for my stop at Blarney Castle to be a tourist trap hell, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, while it's certainly geared for tourists, it was a really nice place to spend a few hours. I loved the castle ruins, and I kissed the Blarney Stone - I don't know if I did it correctly, because I don't think I'm any more eloquent than I was before. I also enjoyed the poison garden as well - the sign for the missing cannabis plant was kind of funny. read more

While in Ireland the better half and I took a day trip to see the famous castle, and kiss the blarney stone, which is said to give you the gift of gab (My wife begged me not kiss it, as she says I never shut up) After driving in from Dublin and making our way through a small town we came upon the castle and were immediately met with a sense of awe as I stared upon something that has stood the test of time, and been the scene of some of Irelands most historic events, or at least tales that may or may not be true. We toured the grounds, which include the deadly garden full of nasty things that will try to kill you (seriously, the plants are all poisonous, so don't touch) The stair case that you must walk down backwards with our eyes shut (I did, and am now waiting for my wish to come true) and a few other gems of history & fable. The experience was amazing, and a must see when in Ireland, as it is only a few hours from Dublin (PRO TIP: everything in Ireland is only a few hours from Dublin). read more

Blarney Castle - The castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blarney, Colorado

See all

It was a lovely day in Blarney village. A good day to visit the castle and slurp the stone. The word blarney has come to mean "clever, flattering, or coaxing talk" defined as something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit. The entry fee cost to the castle is €12 per adult. Once inside there are toilets and a snack hut. The castle itself is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. It's a windy set of steps to the top with a rope to hold on to most of the way up. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. This darn thing has been here since 1446. It's a tradition to kiss this bit of limestone and one has to lie down on one's back, hold on to a metal bar, bend backwards hanging upside-down over a sheer drop. Those who kiss the stone and it's the second time that I have it allegedly imparts the gift of eloquence. There are many legends as to the origin of the stone, some say that it was a magical stone upon which Irish kings were crowned. Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens including an intriguing poison garden from Hemlock to rhubarb. Oh, if an adult could eat five pound weight of rhubarb in one day that's sufficient poison to die. 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, which is a Scottish style baronial style mansion was built in 1874 and it's closed until next Springtime. read more

See all

Wonderful and a must see if you are visiting cork. Its about a 30 minute drive outside the city but there is a good bus service to bring you out as well. From what i remember entry costs are reasonable and the views are wonderful. Make sure you have at least an hour to walk around and learn all about the castle and its history and kiss the stone as well. It has been well preserved and has not been made very touristy. read more

I suggest making sure to schedule 2-3 hours for really exploring the grounds. There is a lot more to do that I expected.