The arrival of the Normans in 1169 brought many changes. Amongst the most significant changes was the construction of stone castles. The first stone castle at Blarney was built around 1210 and later enlarged in 1466, by Cormac McCarthy, otherwise known as Lord Blarney.

Lord Blarney 1411 - 1494 was the undisputed chief of his territory and Blarney Castle was the strongest fortress in all of Munster. The castle walls were 18 foot thick, rising 120 feet above the surrounding plains. Into the tower wall he had a stone inserted bearing the inscription :

Cormac McCarthy fortis me fieri fecit ad 1466 Cormac McCarthy the strong caused me to be built in the year of our Lord 1466.

The gift of Blarney, that comes to those who Kiss the Stone dates back to the reign of Cormac McCarthy. During the height of British power in Ireland, Queen Elizabeth 1 , with all the Queens horses and all the Queens men could not extract from McCarthy minimum loyalty and maximum tribute. Instead McCarthy would meet Carew ( The Queens Tax Collector) with long cajoling speeches, promising much and delivering less.

The Queen said This is all Blarney - what he says, he never means.

The legend lives on. You are a pilgrim to the Blarney Stone. After a few drinks here you too will be embellished with the Power of Eloquence of Speech. But here the powers wear off quickly.

You will have to return time and time again to achieve lasting powers.

Our patrons are encouraged once in their life to visit the Irish Mecca: The Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.