Blarney Castle
(http://www.blarneycastle.ie), is an old ruin famous for the Blarney stone that supposedly gives the gift of eloquence to all those who kiss it. You have to bend over backwards on the top of the castle to kiss it. It is all very touristy, you can even buy a certificate to prove you kissed the stone. But the surroundings are really nice.It is situated just on the periphery of Blarney village which is a few miles outside Cork City.Though it's believed a settlement was established here as early as the 10th Century, the castle was built around 1446 for the MacCarthy Chieftains of Munster. The MacCarthys had influence over Blarney and Munster throughout the many centuries of Anglo-Irish conflict until the defeat of the old Irish nobles by the forces of King William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. At this point, the Lord of Blarney was exiled and the castle was abandoned.
