Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1895 — Where Is the Blarney Stone? [ARTICLE]

Where Is the Blarney Stone?

Within a few miles of Cork there stands, in the midst of beautiful groves, the ruined castle of Blarney. When the castle was besieged by Lord Carew In 1602, Cormac McCarthy, the Irish chieftain who held it, promised to give it up to the English general, but always put him off by soft speeches, until Carew became the laughing stock of Queen Elizabeth’s ministers. Hence arose, so it is said, the common phrase, “None of your Blarney.” There was a stone in the wall of the north angle of the castle, several feet from the top, which whoso should kiss became forthwith gifted With great eloquence. It was not easy to kiss a stone In such a position, tasVthe feat was usually accomplished by the performer of it getting himself lowered by means of a rope. This was the famous Blarney stone.