I’m half Irish and about 8 years ago I got to go to Ireland with my sister. It was May and we arrived in Dublin on a Sunday. Our taxi driver couldn’t take us directly to our hotel because the streets were closed. We didn’t know why but walking a couple blocks we saw hundreds and hundreds of people in the streets. We got to the hotel and were told that because of Foot and Mouth Disease, St. Patrick Day celebrations had to be postponed until that weekend. We had arrived the same day as the St. Patrick’s Day parade and it was happening right in front of our hotel. We stood at our hotel window and watched the parade. How cool is that, to be in Dublin to see the St. Patrick’s Day parade? Pretty cool.
Another highlight of the trip was kissing the Blarney Stone, several decades after my
grandfather had done it. The stone is in the ruins of Blarney Castle, about five stories high. It’s not an easy thing to do. The stone is actually in the wall and, as you can see from the photos, you literarily have to bend over bac
kwards to kiss it (did I say it’s five stories high?). There is a man there to help you and I think the one who helped us might have been then same one who helped my grandfather all those years ago.
Why do we kiss the Blarney Stone? According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery not the gift of blab). According to legend Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, was involved in some sort of lawsuit so the goddess Cliodhna told him that on his way to court he should kiss the first stone he found that morning. He did, and pled his case with great eloquence and won. MacCarthy then took the stone and incorporated into the castle.
The Blarney Stone has been names as the most unhygienic tourist attractions in the world. When we were there they sanitized the rock after each kiss. A little thing like that wasn’t going to deter me. You’re can’t be a true Irish person if you don’t kiss the Blarney Stone when you have a chance.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
Another highlight of the trip was kissing the Blarney Stone, several decades after my
grandfather had done it. The stone is in the ruins of Blarney Castle, about five stories high. It’s not an easy thing to do. The stone is actually in the wall and, as you can see from the photos, you literarily have to bend over bac
kwards to kiss it (did I say it’s five stories high?). There is a man there to help you and I think the one who helped us might have been then same one who helped my grandfather all those years ago.Why do we kiss the Blarney Stone? According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery not the gift of blab). According to legend Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, was involved in some sort of lawsuit so the goddess Cliodhna told him that on his way to court he should kiss the first stone he found that morning. He did, and pled his case with great eloquence and won. MacCarthy then took the stone and incorporated into the castle.
The Blarney Stone has been names as the most unhygienic tourist attractions in the world. When we were there they sanitized the rock after each kiss. A little thing like that wasn’t going to deter me. You’re can’t be a true Irish person if you don’t kiss the Blarney Stone when you have a chance.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
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