Castles in Ireland are like Starbucks in New York, there is
one on every corner. Ok, maybe not that many, but I have seen my fair share of
castles since my arrival. They are all beautiful and grand; set against the
lush, green Irish landscape they have been amazing to just look at and take
pictures of. This past week I finally had the chance to go inside and explore
one of the more famous castles in Ireland, the Blarney Castle.
The Blarney Castle is one of the most popular attractions
near Cork, and it only took a 20-minute bus ride to get there. When we arrived the
sky was overcast and it was raining, but as we ascended the thousands of stairs
toward the infamous stone at the top of the castle, the sun came out and the
clouds rolled away. This provided some truly remarkable pictures of a view I
could never imagine having from my rooftop! By the time we got to the bottom of
the stairs it was raining again. The weather in Ireland is just as polite and
generous as the people.
The castle itself is set in a larger complex that consists
of several gardens and courtyards, a lake, a wildflower field, a house, a farm,
and so much more astounding nature. As we approached the castle, we crossed a
series of small bridges and first came to the Dungeon. I was excited to explore
the dark, dingy, descending cave where prisoners and trespassers were once
kept, but I think I was the only one who didn’t regret it. I led the way
through the quickly shrinking passageway with the other girls begrudgingly trailing
behind. After literally crawling in a dark, wet, poorly lit passageway we came
to a dead end and had to squirm back the we came from. These conditions were
definitely worse than what the inmates whine about on MSNBC’s Lockup, I’d like
to see an episode about this cell. Given the claustrophobic, creepy, paranormal activity vibe, we
all decided that five minutes in the Dungeon was more than enough, and that we
are glad to not be prisoners of that time.
The Blarney Castle was built on a hill to create the
illusion of it being taller than it truly is. This trick intimidated enemies
back in the day, causing them to second guess an attempted ascent. It now has
the same effect on tourists. Still, we did not fear! We climbed the narrow
spiral staircase all the way to the top, and there we all kissed the Blarney
Stone. Kissing the stone is no easy feat; you must lie on your back and suspend
your upper body off the side of the castle to reach. Luckily, metal holding
bars have been installed so people no longer have to be dangled by their
ankles. This whole ordeal is worth it though, because whoever kisses this stone
is said to be bestowed with elegance and charm. I’m not so sure it worked, you
can decide for yourselves when I get back!
After kissing the stone we explored the gorgeous grounds
around the castle. We followed a path to a farm, through a forest, to a lake,
and into a field of wildflowers. I felt like I was scrolling though options for
a new screensaver. Amongst all this natural beauty was the Blarney House, one
of the most picturesque homes I have ever seen. On the path from the house back to
the castle we crossed through the Poison Garden. This was full of plants that
could not be touched, smelled, or tasted, but at least that left two senses to
explore with. I accidentally brushed against an overgrown waxy brown leaf, but
don’t worry, I’m fine. I must have been saved by my newfound charm.
Oh, yeah I almost forgot- here's another windy selfie!
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