| Ireland The Blarney Stone |
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| Welcome to Ireland. This is Blarney Castle, built in 1446, and home to the Blarney Stone. If you wish to continue, it requires climbing the castle stairs to the very top. |
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| The Blarney Stone is up there in a most awkward position. Legend declares that anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone receives the gift of gab. One story is that Lord Blarney so upset Queen Elizabeth I of England with his ability to talk endlessly while saying nothing of substance that she put "blarney" into the dictionary. That is the immortal achievement award for a diplomat. Another far older tale holds that the master of Blarney Castle held off attackers with endless flattery and false promises. |
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| Here is the Blarney Stone. It may have once had a special seal or stamp. Perhaps it was the last stone put in place to complete castle construction. That's the ground below, where items in your pockets may end up if you don't take proper care of them. The stone has turned dark from countless kisses over the centuries. |
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| You don't have to be a contortionist in order to kiss the Blarney Stone, but it would help. After reaching the front of the kissing line, a gentleman with strong arms adds his support as you sit, and then bend over backwards into a horizontal posture, while holding onto the bars with your hands for added stability and moving your head to make contact. This is the Blarney Stone kissing position, here executed perfectly as lips touch the stone. Again you can better appreciate this on my video. I was afraid of receiving a gift of gab overdose, but kissed the Blarney Stone anyway. |
| If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip, "My Pub Runneth Over", by clicking on AdventurePics.com . |
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