2. Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle, as seen today, is the third to have been
erected on this site.
10th century – it was originally a timber hunting lodge
1210 A.D. – Replaced by a stone structure. This
building was demolished for foundations.
1446 - third and present day castle was built by
Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster.
3. Cormac McCarthy, King of
Munster
The lower walls and
angle tower of the castle
was built by Cormac
McCarthy, King of
Munster, who is said to
have supplied 4,000
men from Munster to
help the forces of
Robert the Bruce at the
battle of Bannockburn
in England in 1314.
4. Blarney Stone
Legend has it that Robert
the Bruce gave half of the
Stone of Scone to
McCarthy in thanks.
(Scottish kings were
crowned over the stone
because it was believed to
have special powers) This,
now known as the Blarney
Stone, was built into the
battlements where it can
now be kissed.
5. Queen
Elizabeth I
The English Queen wanted
McCarthy to surrender the
castle. McCarthy promised
repeatedly to hand it over
but never did.
Queen Elizabeth I is
reported to have said ‘’I’m
fed up with all this
Blarney!’ – giving a new
word to the language for
soft and false talk.
What a
load of
Blarney!
6. Kissing the Blarney Stone is siad to give you ‘the
gift of the gab’ – the gift of eloquence!
7. Cromwell's General, Lord Broghill
The Castle remained the stronghold of the McCarthy
family until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell with
cannon guns in 1646. However, when Cromwell’s
men entered the castle McCarthy & his soldiers had
fled by the underground caves situated below the
castle known as the Badgers Caves.
8. Fifteen years later,
with the arrival of
King Charles II on
the English throne,
the McCarthys
returned to the
Castle.
9. Battle of the Boyne 1690
The McCarthys supported the Catholic King James in
the war against Protestant William of Orange.
William won.
As punishment the McCarthy lost all their land and
were banished from Ireland.
10. Sold to Sir James St. John Jefferyes in 1688
The Castle was sold to
Sir James Jefferyes,
Governor of Cork in
1703. Sir Jefferyes built
a new mansion rather
than live in the old, cold
castle. The Castle is
now owned and
managed by the
Trustees of the Blarney
Castle Estate.
11. Legend of Blarney Lake
When the McCarthy’s
fled the castle legend
says they threw the
castle treasures into
Blarney lake.
In 1786, Lady Jefferyes
tried to drain the lake to
find the treasure.
Thousands turned up to
help but nothing was
found and they were
mocked at.
