Kissing the Blarney Stone

On our recent trip to the Republic of Ireland we stopped in the town of Tipperary where the 15-century Blarney Castle -- and the Blarney stone --are located. Supposedly, anyone who kisses the Blarney stone will get the gift of blarney or gab. According to Gerry O'Brien, our Irish guide, who, by the way, has the gift of blarney, the lord of the castle was out walking one day when he came upon a young girl drowning in the river.



He quickly saved the girl. The girl's mother, a local witch, was truly thankful. She told the lord that a nearby stone had mystical powers and directed him to kiss the stone. Now the lord had a terrible stutter, but after he kissed the stone, his stutter disappeared. The lord knew the stone was too valuable to leave in the field. He had it brought to the castle and installed in the castle's battlements in a nearly inaccessible place to make it difficult to steal. Now for a small fee, anyone can kiss the Blarney stone and, possibly, get the gift of blarney.

Read more: here.