Most people associate Blarney
Castle in County Cork in Ireland with the Blarney stone, which when kissed
gives people “the gift of gab.” But this castle is also believed to have a real
curse.
The Legend
Cormac MacCarthy, one of Ireland’s
great chieftains built Blarney Castle around 1446. Despite the fact Cormac
fought with the English-- against the local FitzGerald's, Queen Elizabeth l sent
an envoy, the Earl of Leicester to claim his lands and rights.
Legend states Comac lacking
the ability to speak with finesse, feared he was not capable of convincing the
queen to change her mind. He then met an old woman--said to be actually the
goddess Clíodhna--
that told him anyone who kissed the Blarney stone located on the parapet at his
castle would be given the gift of eloquent speech. *
Comac did precisely this and
then was able to wine and dine, flatter and deceive Leicester who delayed the
queen’s decision. This worked for Comac was allowed to keep his family’s
traditional land.
The queen afterward stated
with irritation that all of the earl’s reports about his progress were
“blarney.”
* Part of this gift of gab is
wit and the art of persuasion.
The Blarney Stone
Ever since millions of
tourists from all around the world have visited the castle to kiss the Blarney
stone.
For years, people risked life
and limb to lay on their backs stretch across a 90-foot drop backward and kiss
the stone --most today are assisted by someone tightly holding onto
their mid-sections.
In the 20th
century by the time my older brother kissed the stone there were wrought-iron
guide rails and protective crossbars in place--all for the gift of “beguiling
talk.”
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| Kissing the Blarney stone Click to enlarge |
The Curse
Many tourists that visit
Blarney Castle get more than they bargained for. For it is said there is a
curse on Blarney castle and the surrounding area.
The Irish have many myths
about the supernatural power of rocks. Their collection of stories about
cursed and wishing stones is more extensive than any other country. This is attributed
to the Celt's religious devotion to these hard minerals.
The Blarney Castle curse
states that if a stone, rock or even a pebble is removed from the area, it will
bring misfortune and misery to whoever possesses it.
This legend appears to have
some basis in truth.
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| Castle grounds |
The owner of Blarney Castle,
Lord Charles Colthurst states the castle every year receives packages
containing stones that are being returned-- with a note from the sender stating
they feel they are cursed with bad luck.
The Irish Independent often reports on these stories. Linda Kelly from
South Carolina believes her experience is proof this curse actually exists.
Kelly is an estate agent. She
arranged a sale of possessions in a house that belonged to a priest. He was known to be a
recluse who led a miserable life. While in his home she stated she found it
creepy.
During this sale, Kelly
purchased a stone for $1.00 that was marked, Blarney Castle. She bought the rock
for her daughter who was living in Ireland at the time.
As soon as Kelly took
possession of this item she began to have bad luck.
She lost many of her upcoming
assignments, once back at work she found that her usual sunny disposition was
gone. She became deeply depressed for no reason-- she did not even want to
leave her house.
She paid all her bills, but she began to get letters and phone calls informing her
none of them had been paid. This was the last straw for Kelly she wrapped the
rock up and mailed it to County Cork.
A Canadian, Liam Saruman
while visiting Blarney castle in February of 2009 picked up a small stone that
had fallen off the castle wall. He left thinking he had a unique souvenir.
Once home he experienced a constant stream of bad luck. His life became chaotic. He returned the stone to the castle with
a letter that stated he now hoped the curse would be reversed.
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