This is no Blarney October 6, 2006

This morning at the Round Tower Hotel was strange. We went downstairs about 8:30 for breakfast to find the hotel deserted and no lights on. We had been told when we checked in that breakfast would be served from 7:30 to 9:30. We had the computer with us so we went in the sitting area, which has wireless, and checked email while we waited. After a half an hour and no sign of life we went back to our room finished packing and brought the bags downstairs to the car. There were only two other cars in the parking lot for the 44 room hotel. We attributed this to it being late in the season and the fact that we were off the main road. There were signs of life in the kitchen so we walked into that area and were met by a cheerful ruddy cheeked lady that said breakfast was anytime we wanted it. Breakfast finished we left the Round Tower and pointed the car toward Cork and the village of Blarney.

We were at Blarney within an hour and found a parking place so that we could tour Ireland’s most famous castle. The castle is a stone structure built in the 15th century that consists of a tall square tower with now broken battlements surrounded by 18th century grottos and gardens. The walls at the base are about 10-12 feet thick but look quite fragile now as almost 600 years of Irish weather have taken their toll. We made our way into the castle and through the queue up a very narrow (read this as a claustrophobic’s nightmare) spiral stone staircase to the top of the castle and the famous stone which is said to impart the gift of eloquent nonsense, BS in today’s lingo, to those who lay down, lean backwards over the drop and kiss the stone. Holly and I both accomplished the task and so from this date forward you can’t believe anything we say. The meaning of Blarney is said to have been coined by Queen Elizabeth I to describe the successful stalling tactics of then owner Cormac McCarthy as she tried to take possession of his castle. Legend says that the Blarney Stone is half of the Stone of Destiny (See blog September 22-23) and was presented to McCarthy by Robert the Bruce for his support of the Scots at Bannockburn. The stone is set just under the top of the tower wall in a well that will make you stretch backwards and upside down to accomplish the pilgrimage.

The grottos and gardens around the castle are worth the hour or so it takes to stroll through them. Sites include the Witches Kitchen and the Wishing Steps where it is said if you walk up and down them backwards your wish will come true.

We drove back to Cork after our tour where we did a little shopping, had lunch and caught a movie at a large mall, our way of staying in touch with reality.

Back to Blarney we checked into the Blarney Park Hotel after which we popped down to a local pub where Holly had an Irish Coffee and I had a Guinness. A great way to end a great day. The weather gods nodded our way again as what little rain we had always seem to fall when we inside and the forecast is for dry weather the next couple of days. Maybe my wish is coming true.

Note: Holly and I will be in a cottage along the Ring of Kerry and away from the mainstream for the next four days and internet access will be uncertain.