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IRISH: THE LEGEND OF THE BLARNEY STONE
The legend that surrounds one particular stone set into the
battlements of Blarney Castle in County Cork brings hundreds
of thousands of visitors to the small village of Blarney
every year. It is believed that those who kiss the stone
will receive the “gift of the gab” - or the gift of
eloquence. Kissing the stone is not an easy task though.
You must lie on your back and lean over the edge of the
battlement, while holding onto metal bars. Situated
beautifully on the edge of a cliff, the Castle was built in
1446 by Cormac McCarthy as a defensive fortress. Today, only
the 85 feet high keep remains but the original Castle would
have been a massive five-story structure and an impressive
defensive unit.
The stones powers are unquestioned but its story still
creates debate. |
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Some say it was Jacob’s
Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet
Jeremiah. Here it became the Lia Fail or ‘Fatal
Stone’, used as an oracular throne of Irish
kings. It was also said to be the
deathbed pillow of St Columba on the island of
Iona. Legend says it was then removed to
mainland Scotland, where it served as the
prophetic power of royal succession, the Stone
of Destiny.
When Cormac MacCarthy, King of Munster, sent
five thousand men to support Robert the Bruce in
his defeat of the English at Bannockburn in
1414, a portion of the historic Stone was given
by the Scots in gratitude – and returned to
Ireland.
Others say it may be a stone brought back to
Ireland from the Crusades – the ‘Stone of Ezel’
behind which David hid on Jonathan’s advice when
he fled from his enemy, Saul. A few claim it was
the stone that gushed water when struck by
Moses.
Visit the official website at
http://www.blarneycastle.ie/
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For many centuries, English monarchs tried to
impose their will on Ireland. Queen Elizabeth I, eager to
extend the influence of her government, sent a deputy to
Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, who was Lord of Blarney, and
demanded that he take the tenure of his lands from the
Crown. Cormac set out to visit the Queen and plead for his
traditional right to his land, but he despaired for success
for he was not fluent of speech.
Shortly after starting his journey, he met an old woman who
asked him why he looked so forlorn. He told her his story
and she said, "Cormac, when Blarney Castle was built, one
stone was put into place by a man who predicted no one would
ever be able to touch it again. If you can kiss that stone,
the gift of eloquence will be conferred upon you."
Cormac traveled back to his castle and succeeded in kissing
the stone. He then was able to go and address the Queen with
speech so soft and words so fair that as long as he lived,
he never had to renounce his right to his land. From that
time forward, people have traveled from many lands to try to
kiss the Blarney stone and receive the "gift of gab" and
eloquence of speech.
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There is a stone
that whoever kisses,
Oh! He never misses to grow eloquent,
'Tis he may clamber to a lady’s chamber,
or become a Member of Parliament.
Frances Sylvester Mahoney, Local
Irish Poem
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