Blarney

Located 8 kilometers northwest of Cork City, Blarney draws visitors to its 15th-century castle where the Blarney Stone sits atop a 37-meter tower. The 1,000-acre castle grounds include a walled garden with medicinal plants, walking paths through ancient woodlands, and a lake trail past limestone caves. In the village center, you'll walk past stone buildings from the 1800s and through the Blarney Woollen Mills, where weavers once made textiles on the factory floor.

Visiting Blarney Castle

The 15th-century Blarney Castle opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM). To kiss the Blarney Stone, climb 127 steps to the castle's top and lean backward while holding safety rails - a practice dating back to the 18th century. Entry costs €23 for adults and €11 for children aged 6-16, with family tickets available for €60.

Exploring the Castle Grounds

Walk through the gated Poison Garden, where signs warn about toxic plants like wolfsbane and mandrake. The fern garden path winds beneath tree canopies, home to 80 different fern species. Along the lake trail, you can peek into centuries-old limestone caves and spot Ireland's tallest Witch Hazel tree in the arboretum. Most visitors spend about three hours exploring the castle and its grounds.

Getting Around Blarney

Take the 215 bus from Cork City center to Blarney every 30 minutes - it stops at The Square. If driving from Cork Airport, follow signs to the city center and take the N20 toward Limerick, then turn left at the Blarney sign after 7 kilometers. The castle has a free parking lot for 300 cars.

The Village Square and Shopping

The Square's stone buildings from the 1800s include the Muskerry Arms pub and several cafes. Inside the Blarney Woollen Mills, a converted 1824 mill building, you can see the original stone walls and wooden beams while browsing Irish-made sweaters, Waterford crystal, and locally woven textiles.

Local Activities

Watch soccer matches at Blarney United FC's grounds, which has both grass and all-weather pitches for Munster Senior League games. The Blarney GAA club plays hurling matches throughout the season. You can play golf at two 18-hole courses within 5 miles of the village, or take the marked walking trails that connect The Square to the castle grounds through woodland paths.