Cork City & Blarney Castle

If you are backpacking Ireland, and find yourself in its second biggest city – Cork - then a visit to Blarney Castle is something you cannot afford to miss. Built by Irish nobleman Cormac MacCarthy more than 600 million years ago, the Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s historical landmarks and attracts tourists in droves.
What is it about this castle that makes it such a hotspot for visitor activity? The answer lies in the famous ‘Blarney Stone’ that people not only come to see but also to kiss! So, what ‘special powers’ will be bestowed on you with one kiss? Read on to find out.

The Blarney Stone

In its list of ‘99 things to do before you die’, Discovery’s Travel Channel lists kissing the Blarney Stone as one. It is believed that a kiss will bless you with persuasive powers and 'the gift of the gab'. Before you dismiss this as being silly, just consider the long visitor queues, with eager visitors ready to wait their turn and climb the castle’s 108 steps to kiss the stone. If anything, it is fun and gives you bragging rights of kissing this famous stone slab.

Other Blarney Castle Attractions

If kissing the stone is not your style, you can admire the picturesque views of the Blarney Castle estate grounds. The arboretum has beautiful flora and fauna, such as the southern beech, ornamental pear, evergreen oaks and copper beech. Next to it are hybrid azaleas and red cedar trees. Spend some time in these lovely gardens and wrap up with a lunch at the Blarney Castle Hotel. Also, don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the historical dungeon located below the tower house.

How to Get to Blarney Castle

The Blarney Village (where the castle is located) is about 8km north-west of Cork city. You can take a bus to Blarney, opt for a Cork City tour that covers this castle or hire a car to take yourself around Cork and its tourist attractions.

Cork City: What to See and Do

Dublin will most definitely be on your trekking Ireland expedition. From Dublin, you can drive, fly, or a train or bus to Cork. When in Cork, there is quite a bit to see and experience. You can start by visiting the main University, University College Cork, a premier tourist attraction, and one of the most beautiful Gothic revival-style architectural creations by Sir Thomas Deane. The 44 acre main campus is famous for its wooded grounds that are home to California redwood trees.

The English Market in the city centre is well-known for its fresh produce, most sought-after being the fresh fish, along with specialties like buttered eggs, Irish black pudding or drisheen, and spiced beef. More recently, Queen Elizabeth II visited this market as part of her state visit. If you want to explore Cork’s evolution and conservation efforts, then you must visit the Cork Vision Centre. The National Monument and Crawford Gallery are other landmarks of historical interest that are worth visiting in Cork.

For a wildlife experience, make the effort to visit Fota Wildlife Park, which is just 10 miles from the city. Home to over 70 species of wildlife, it offers a great opportunity to watch antelopes, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, white-tailed sea eagles and scimitar oryx in their natural surroundings.

St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, which is a French-Gothic style place of worship and the interesting Cork City Gaol are two historical sites that are worth a visit when you stop at Cork during your Ireland adventure trip. Fitzgerald Park, with its lush greenery, statues and museum is a great place to unwind after a hectic day of sight seeing.