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| BLARNEY CASTLE, COUNTY CORK. -This castle, if neither the finest nor the most ancient, is, nevertheless, the most celebrated of ruined Irish fortresses, because of the alleged miraculously persuasive qualities of its world-renowned "stone," which "whoever kisses, never misses to grow eloquent." About all that now remains of the once extensive castle, which was built by Cormac McCarth, Lord of Muskerry, in the middle of the fifteenth century, is the "donjon keep," which rises to an altitude of one hundred and twenty feet, is one of square configuration and has walls of great thickness. In ancient times, before the era of villainous salt-petre and cannon balls, it must have been a hopeless place on which to attempt an assault. Although there has been somewhat serious controversy relative to the identity of the "true Blarney Stone," it is now generally conceded that it forms part of the face of the tower wall, several feet below the parapet, and bears the date of erection, A. D. 1446, and an almost illegible inscription in Latin. It is now secured in the wall by an iron clamp, as it was knocked out of place by a cannon ball during Lord Broghill's siege of the castle, in 1643. None but the agile and the reckless can kiss the "true Blarney Stone." All others satisfy themselves with a substitute placed so conveniently that the osculator's neck is not imperilled. |
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