Blarney stone - wikipedia Blarney stone The Blarney Stone The Blarney Stone ( Irish : Cloch na Blarnan ) is a block of Carboniferous limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres ( 5 miles ) from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab ( great eloquence or skill at flattery ). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the stone and tour the castle and its gardens. The word blarney has come to mean `` clever, flattering, or coaxing talk ''. Irish politician John O'Connor Power defined it this way : `` Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit. Those who mix with Irish folk have many examples of it in their everyday experience. '' Letitia Elizabeth Landon described its contemporary meaning in an article entitled ' Blarney Castle ' in 1832. Contents 1 Origins 2 Ritual 3 Legend 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links Origins View of the Blarney Stone from the ground A number of stories attempt to explain the origin of the stone and surrounding legend. An early story involves the goddess Clíodhna. Cormac Laidir McCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, being involved in a lawsuit in the 15th century, appealed to Clíodhna for her assistance. She told McCarthy to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart `` the ability to deceive without offending ''. MacCarthy then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle. The proprietors of Blarney Castle list several other explanations of the origins of the stone on their website. Many of these suppose that the stone had previously been in Ireland, was taken to Scotland and then returned to Ireland in 1314. The stories listed include one suggesting that the stone was presented to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn. This legend holds that this was a piece of the Stone of Scone and was installed at McCarthy 's castle of Blarney. Although colourful, this folk legend does not account for the fact that it supposes that the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn, and modern analysis suggests that the stone is not related to the Stone of Scone. Ritual Person kissing the Blarney Stone The ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone, according to the castle 's proprietors, has been performed by `` millions of people '', including `` world statesmen, literary giants ( and ) legends of the silver screen ''. The kiss, however, is not casually achieved. To touch the stone with one 's lips, the participant must ascend to the castle 's peak, then lean over backwards on the parapet 's edge. This is traditionally achieved with the help of an assistant. Although the parapet is now fitted with wrought - iron guide rails and protective crossbars, the ritual can still trigger attacks of acrophobia, an extreme or irrational fear of heights. Kissing the stone in 1897, before the safeguards were installed. Before the safeguards were installed, the kiss was performed with real risk to life and limb, as participants were grasped by the ankles and dangled bodily from the height. In the Sherlock Holmes radio dramatisation `` The Adventure of the Blarney Stone '' ( first broadcast on 18 March 1946 ), a man attempting to kiss the Blarney Stone falls to his death. Holmes ' investigation reveals this as a murder as the man 's boots having been surreptitiously greased before the attempt. William Henry Hurlbert wrote in 1888 that the legend of the stone seemed to be less than a hundred years old at that time, suggesting the tradition began late in the 18th century. The legend of the Blarney Stone was described in A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue by Francis Grose, printed 1785. Legend It is claimed that the synonymy of `` blarney '' with `` empty flattery '' or `` beguiling talk '' derives from one of two sources. One story involves the goddess Clíodhna and Cormac Laidir MacCarthy ( see `` Origins '' above ). Another legend suggests that Queen Elizabeth I requested Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, be deprived of his traditional land rights. Cormac travelled to see the queen, but was certain he would not persuade her to change her mind as he was n't an effective speaker. He met an old woman on the way who told him that anyone who kissed a particular stone in Blarney Castle would be given the gift of eloquent speech. Cormac went on to persuade the queen that he should not be deprived of his land. ' Tis there 's the stone that whoever kisses He never misses to grow eloquent ; ' Tis he may clamber to a lady 's chamber, Or become a member of Parliament. `` A noble spouter he 'll sure turn out, or An out and outer to be let alone ; Do n't try to hinder him, or to bewilder him, For he is a pilgrim from the Blarney stone. '' Francis Sylvester Mahony Echoing the supposed power of the stone, an Irish bard of the early 19th century, Francis Sylvester Mahony, added a number of ( humorous ) lines to Richard Alfred Millikin 's `` The Groves of Blarney '' ( right ). According to tradition at Texas Tech University, a stone fragment on display since 1939 outside the old Electrical Engineering Building is a missing piece of the Blarney Stone. How this was determined is unknown. See also Wikisource has original text related to this article : Blarney Castle, by L.E.L. Answering Stone References ^ Jump up to : `` Mystery of Blarney Stone 's heritage finally solved ''. The Guardian. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014. Jump up ^ ' Irish Wit and Humour ', John O'Connor Power, Time, 1890, p. 178. Jump up ^ James MacKillop, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford. pp. 43 -- 44, 91 Jump up ^ Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. New York : Facts On File. 2004. pp. 48, 91 Jump up ^ Irish Pedigrees : MacCarthy, Lords of Muskry # 119 Jump up ^ Richard Marsh, Elan Penn, Frank McCourt, The Legends & Lands of Ireland. Penn Publishing. pp. 107 -- 110 ^ Jump up to : `` The Blarney Stone ''. Blarney Castle website. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2008. Jump up ^ Castleden, Rodney ( 2006 ). Castles of the celtic lands : the historic castles of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Barnes & Noble. p. 26. ISBN 0 - 7607 - 7937 - 6. Jump up ^ Varner, Gary R. ( 2004 ). Menhirs, dolmen, and circles of stone : the folklore and magic of sacred stone. Algora Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 0 - 87586 - 349 - 3. Jump up ^ Dunton, Larkin ( 1896 ). The World and Its People. Silver, Burdett. p. 84. Jump up ^ Hurlbert, William Henry ( 1888 ). Ireland Under Coercion : The Diary of an American ( 2nd ed. ). Houghton Mifflin. p. 232. Jump up ^ Grose, Francis `` A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue '' S. Hooper, London, 1785. Retrieved 23 December 2010 Jump up ^ `` Irish Blessings - Legend of the Blarney Stone ''. Jump up ^ `` Fun stories ''. Blarney Castle website. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008. Jump up ^ Martin, Cindy ( March -- April 1987 ). `` The Blarney Stone... at Texas Tech ? '' ( pdf ). Texas Techsan. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech Alumni Association. p. 25., also cited in `` Blarney Stone ''. Texas Tech University. Retrieved 10 July 2008. Jump up ^ Ritz, Jennifer. `` This is Texas Tech '' ( PDF ). Texas Techsan Magazine. Texas Tech Alumni Association : 7. Archived from the original ( pdf ) on 2014 - 07 - 25. Further reading Samuel, Mark ; Hamlyn, Kate ( 2007 ). Blarney Castle : Its History, Development and Purpose. Cork University. ISBN 978 - 1 - 85918 - 411 - 0. External links Official Website ( Blarney Castle ) Photos and Description Coordinates : 51 ° 55 ′ 45 '' N 8 ° 34 ′ 14 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 51.929091 ° N 8.570564 ° W ﻿ / 51.929091 ; - 8.570564 Mac Cárthaigh General Eóganachta Eóganacht Chaisil Munster King of Munster Desmond King of Desmond Lord of Kerslawny Lord of Coshmaing Lord of Molahiffe Earl of Clancarty Viscount Muskerry Count of Toulouse Senchas Fagbála Caisil Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil Mac Carthaigh 's Book Book of Lismore Blarney Stone Early progenitors Óengus mac Nad Froích Feidlimid mac Óengusa Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind Nad Froích mac Colgú Cellachán Caisil Donnchad mac Cellacháin Mac Cárthaigh Mór Cárthach mac Saorbhreathach Muireadach mac Carthaig Tadg Mac Carthaig Cormac Mac Carthaig Donnchad Mac Carthaig Dermod Mór na Cill Baghain MacCarthy Donal Mór na Corra MacCarthy Cormac Fionn MacCarthy Donal Roe MacCarthy Mór Donogh Carrthain MacCarthy Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór Domhnall an Dana MacCarthy Tadgh Liath MacCarthy Domhnall an Druiminin MacCarthy Domhnall MacCarthy Charles MacCarthy Liam Trant MacCarthy Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach Donal Gott MacCarthy Fínghin Mac Carthaigh Finghin MacCarthy Reagh Donal MacCarthy Reagh Thaddeus McCarthy Florence MacCarthy Owen MacCarthy Reagh Cormac na Haoine MacCarthy Reagh Donal of the Pipes MacCarthy Teige - an - Duna MacCarthy Nicholas Tuite MacCarthy Mac Cárthaigh Múscraí Dermod Mór MacCarthy Donough I MacCarty Charles MacCarty Justin MacCarthy Donough II MacCarty Robert MacCarty Places Cashel Desmond Carbery Muskerry Duhallow Macroom Mangerton Mountain Bansha Rock of Cashel Blarney Castle Kinsmen McAuliffe O'Callaghan O'Sullivan McGillycuddy of the Reeks Celts portal Ireland portal WikiProject Superstition Main topics Amulet Evil eye Luck Omen Talismans Myth and ritual Lists List of superstitions List of lucky symbols List of unlucky symbols Sailors ' superstitions Theatrical superstitions Africa Buda Gris - gris Sampy Sleeping child Americas Ascalapha odorata Carranca Curupira Djucu Fortune cookie I'noGo tied White lighter myth Witch window Asia Superstition in India list Superstition in Pakistan Japanese superstitions Bhoot ( ghost ) Chhaupadi Churel Ghosts in Bengali culture Jackal 's horn Muhurta Navaratna Nazar battu Pichal Peri Puppy pregnancy syndrome Akabeko Kanai Anzen Maneki - neko Okiagari - koboshi Omamori Fan death Agimat Albularyo Barang Kulam Lihi Pagtatawas Pasma Usog Kuman Thong Palad khik Takrut Nang Kwak Curse of 39 Jin Chan Numbers in Chinese culture Russian traditions and superstitions Superstitions of Malaysian Chinese Europe Barbary macaques in Gibraltar Blarney Stone Cimaruta Cornicello Goodman 's Croft In bocca al lupo Kitchen witch Nazar Painted pebbles Rabbit rabbit rabbit Ravens of the Tower of London Spilling water for luck Troll cross Tycho Brahe days Witch post Wolfssegen General 11 : 11 4 ( Four - leaf clover, Tetraphobia ) 7 ( Seventh son of a seventh son ) 8 9 13 ( Friday the 13th, The Thirteen Club, Thirteenth floor, Triskaidekaphobia ) 108 111 666 ( Number of the Beast ) Ace of spades Auspicious wedding date Baseball superstition Bayern - luck Beginner 's luck Black cat Bread and butter Break a leg Chain letter Cooties Cramp - ring Curse Davy Jones ' Locker End - of - the - day betting effect Fear of frogs Fear of ghosts First - foot Flying Dutchman Four Eleven Forty Four Gambler 's conceit Good luck charm Groundhog Day Himmelsbrief Human sacrifice Jinx Klabautermann Knocking on wood Law of contagion Literomancy Lock of hair Maternal impression Miasma theory Mooncalf Need - fire Nelson Numismatic charm Oscar love curse Penny Powder of sympathy Rabbit 's foot Rainmaking The Scottish Play Ship sponsor Shoes on a table Sign of the horns Something old Spilling salt Susto Three on a match Threshold Toi toi toi Wishing well Witch ball Witching hour Related Apotropaic magic Astrology and science Coincidence Debunker Divination Folk religion Fortune - telling Magic and religion Magical thinking Numerology Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena Post hoc ergo propter hoc Traditional medicine Urban legend Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blarney_Stone&oldid=837198139 '' Categories : Stones Clíodhna Irish folklore Limestone MacCarthy dynasty Superstitions of Ireland Tourist attractions in County Cork Hidden categories : EngvarB from October 2013 Use dmy dates from October 2013 Articles containing Irish - language text Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Български Español Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge 한국어 Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Nederlands Polski Русский Svenska 6 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 April 2018, at 09 : 58 ( UTC ). 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Question: where do you kiss the blarney stone in ireland
Answer: the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from Cork, Ireland