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 III's
troops). Thousands of tourists a year still visit the castle.
The origins 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 stretch to their back and bend
backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support.