The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. The stone is not easy to rearch, it is between the main castle wall and the parapet. In order to kiss the stone you must lie on your back, bending backwards and downwards while holding onto iron bars for support. People have been kissing the stone now for 500 years. It is said that kissing the stone is suppose to bring luck and the gift of persuasive eloquence. Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy, Lord of Muskerry built the castle in 1446. The walls are 18 feet thick which was a necessity then for protection from enemies. Every year thousands of tourists visit the castle to see and kiss the Blarney Stone.

No one knows exactly how the Blarney Stone received its magical characteristic as there are many legends surrounding the stone. On legend states an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her frown drowning. While under the spell the king kissed the stone which gave him the ability to speak sweetly and with great influence.

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