KISS ME, I’M IRISH

This stony smooch is a tradition that’s endured for several centuries

WORDS BY: EMILY HUMPHREY

Dreaming of the gift of the gab? About 8km north of Cork, you’ll find a fabled stone set in a wall of the idyllic 15thcentury Blarney Castle. Legend has it that kissing the Blarney Stone brings you the gift of eloquence – skillful flattery, if you will. This particularly famous Irish custom is a long-standing, prized tradition. The origins of the Blarney Stone remain a hotly contested mystery, but in recent years science has declared it to be made of local limestone, dispelling myths about it being WORDS BY: EMILY HUMPHREY gifted from afar. Dermot McCarthy, king of Munster, built the castle in 1446 and today, its impressive grounds are a pleasure to explore. Climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top of the castle. (The views across the grounds and Irish countryside are terrific, by the way.) The stone is set in the eastern wall below the battlements. You’re supposed to kiss it upside down, so pucker up and be prepared to lie down and hold onto the iron railing as you lean backward. To be sure.

Blarney Castle

A hopeful visitor leans back to kiss the stone

MAIN IMAGE: Blarney Castle