To kiss the stone, one has to climb to the very top of Blarney Castle, and traditionally, the kissers lie upside down to do it. Millions, including famous authors, movie stars, and lots of regular people, have joined in the fun. However, they might not have done so if they had heard a little-known and somewhat stomach-turningrumor. The stone, some say, once served as a deflectorat the bottom of a toilet!
Many other legends and stories surround the stone. There is a tale that the stone was gifted to MacCarthy by Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots. However, this story is not quite true. In fact, with all the amazing stories surrounding the stone, some people use the word “blarney” to mean “unbelievable.”
Then, there is the lesser-known tale of the curseof Blarney Castle. In the past, some tourists have removed pieces of the castle during their visit or taken small stones home. It is said that some have experienced terrible luck afterward. Each year, the current owners of the castle receive packages containing pieces being returned by past visitors who hope to reversethe curse.
So, pay a visit to the castle and leave a kiss on the stone. But whatever you do, never take a piece of Blarney home!
