Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle, home of the iconic Blarney Stone, was at the top of my Ireland "must see" list. We headed for it as soon as we left Dublin. As was the case with most of what I saw in Ireland, the castle and grounds were more beautiful than I had imagined, and the castle itself was quite imposing.

First view of Blarney Castle

The castle again, from closer vantage points. Quite an impressive structure that I'd certainly think twice about invading!

Naturally, I had to kiss the Blarney Stone while I was there. Legend has it that the original owner embedded the good-luck stone high in the castle walls so no one would ever steal it. The origins of the stone are uncertain, and various legends tie it to Jacob in the Old Testament and Robert the Bruce of Scotland.

The castle is surrounded by acres and acres of lush manicured gardens, home to a wide variety of trees and other plant life.

Grounds and the adjacent town

Other posts to look for in this series: the Ring of Kerry; the Cliffs of Moher; fabulous Irish seascapes; it's old, it's stone, it's cool; and many more!