Happy
St. Patrick's Day

the blarney stone

the blarney stone is a stone set in the wall of the blarney castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney). the castle was built in 1446 by cormac laidhiv McCarthy (lord of muskerry) -- its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by cromwellians and William |||'s troops). thousands of tourists a year still visit the  castle.

The origin of the blarney stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly.

It's tough to reach the stone -- it's between the main castle wall and the parapet. kissers have to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support.