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Blarney just 8km (5 miles)
from Cork City is set in beautiful wooded countryside, it is an
ideal base to visit the many wonderful sights of Cork and Kerry.
Steeped in history and magical charm, Blarney village offers the
visitor a host of wonderful things to do and places to discover.
One of the finest things
that impresses the first time visitor is the well preserved
village square. Blarney is one of the few villages in Ireland
which has such a fine amenity, and today it continues to be a
focal point of village life. In Tudor style, the village has
developed around the square which is owned and carefully
maintained by Blarney Castle Estate. The population of Blarney is
small, approximately 2,000 and the people are friendly and
welcoming towards the visitor.
Some great sights to visit
include the legendary Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. For many of
the visitors to Blarney, their first priority is to kiss the
famous Blarney Stone high up on the Castle battlements. Tradition
holds that those who kiss the Blarney Stone will be endowed with
the gift of eloquence - "the gift of the gab", as the locals call
it.
"There is a stone that
whoever kisses never misses to grow eloquent, he may clamber to a
lady's chamber or become a member of parliament".
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Over 200,000 people visit
Blarney Castle each year. The castle is situated in over a
thousand acres of magnificent woodland, making it the ideal place
to take walks to enjoy the clean fresh environment of Blarney.
Blarney boasts some of
the finest accommodation premises in Ireland.
 These
include hotels, guesthouses, a caravan and camping park, town and
country homes and farmhouses. Approved self-catering accommodation
is also available. Blarney offers accommodation to suit all tastes
and budgets.
Shopping is a pleasure in
the village where there are a number of excellent outlets,
including the world famous Blarney Woollen Mills. Established in
1824, the outlet has become one of the largest craft shops in
Ireland and is renowned for its quality produce.
Blarney offers a superb
variety of recreational pursuits to suit all ages. The golfer has
several excellent eighteen hole courses to choose from; two within
five miles of the village. There is a network of quiet country
lanes for the walking enthusiast. Locally, you can fish for
salmon, wild brown trout or coarse fish.
There are several sports and
leisure centres for fitness buffs located in the area, which offer
everything from swimming to gymnasium facilities. For families
there's a delightful woodland farm which features a meandering
nature trail offering a mixture of fun, education and relaxation |
