Do you plan to kiss the Blarney Stone during your next trip to Ireland? Are you looking for information to help you plan your visit to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone?
Well, look no further, because I had the unforgettable experience of visiting Blarney to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Did you know that after you do kiss the Blarney Stone, also referred to as the Stone of Eloquence, legend has it you will be bestowed with the gift of gab?
People have been visiting Blarney for over 200 years to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Kissing the Blarney Stone was a dream of mine and one of my two top priorities for my trip to Ireland.
I want to share my incredible experiences with you so you will be better prepared than I was when you kiss the Blarney Stone!
10 Things To Know Before You Kiss The Blarney Stone
Plan To Spend A Lot Of Time At Blarney Castle
This would be my number one recommendation and tip. Set aside a large portion of your travel day to spend at Blarney Castle, because there is a LOT MORE to do than just kiss the Blarney Stone!
Set on sixty acres, Blarney Castle’s grounds are nothing short of stunning. There are gardens to explore, walks to take, and streams to rest near.
You will want to have ample time to wander the grounds and see as much as possible while you are there visiting.
Unfortunately, this was not my experience. I was not aware of the beautiful property that Blarney Castle was nestled in. And the rich history there to discover.
I felt rushed and a bit disappointed when my family and I left because we did not budget enough time. Please do not make our mistakes!
Read here about how to stay healthy while traveling to kiss the Blarney Stone!
Park In Blarney City For Free To Save On Parking Fees
Blarney Castle is located in the charming town of Blarney, about 5 miles outside of Cork, Ireland. You will be charged a parking fee if you park on the grounds of Blarney Castle.
If you so desire, you can park in the city of Blarney itself, a mere block or two away, and it will be free.
It was a crowded afternoon when I visited Blarney Castle with my family, and we were still able to find a parking spot about one block away.
Save Time And Money By Purchasing Admission Tickets Online Beforehand
There is an admission fee to enter Blarney Castle and the accompanying grounds.
We definitely would have saved time if we had already bought our admission tickets instead of having to wait in line to purchase them upon arrival.
And of course, we could have saved money too, for buying them online saves money.
Tickets Here: Blarney Castle Full Day Tour From Dublin
Tickets here: Dublin: Full-Day Tour to Cork, Cobh, and Blarney Castle
Kiss The Blarney Stone In The Early Morning Or Late Afternoon
Upon our midmorning arrival, my family and I headed straight for the Blarney Castle to fulfill our dream to kiss the Blarney Stone.
That turned out to be an unfortunate decision for us because the line was extremely long and it took a very long time for us to get to the stone.
A few hours later, as we wandered and explored the grounds of Blarney Castle, we noticed there was NO LINE at all.
So, please learn from our mistake, meander around the grounds, enjoy all the gardens and streams, and kiss the Blarney Stone a bit later on in the day.
You will also have better success and skip the long line to kiss the Blarney Stone if you arrive early in the morning before the crowds arrive.
To Kiss The Blarney Stone You Must Climb A Narrow Tunnel With A Winding Staircase
Please be advised, that it is no small task to actually get to the top of the Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone.
You will have to climb a somewhat steep winding staircase to get there. I know of no accommodations for the disabled or those in a wheelchair.
Along the staircase, as you are climbing to the top, there are magnificent and spectacular views of the Blarney grounds and the adjacent Irish countryside that will take your breath away.
Have your camera or cell phone ready to capture some of the most memorable Irish vistas around.
Look here: From Dublin: Full Day Tour Of Blarney Castle
Once On Top Of Blarney Castle, The Views Are Gorgeous
Soon enough, you will emerge from the winding staircase to the openness and vastness of the rooftop of Blarney Castle.
You will still have a short walk of about 50 paces until you get to the stone.
Use that time to look at the absolutely stunning scenery of Ireland that is all around you while you get palpably excited that your turn to kiss the Blarney Stone is near.
If you are planning a trip to Ireland, here is useful information that will help you plan a memorable trip everyone will love:
8 Big Mistakes To Avoid At The Cliffs Of Moher
Charming Things To Do In Killarney
The Ultimate 7 Day Ireland Itinerary
The Ultimate 3 Days in Dublin Itinerary
17 Fun Things To Do In Doolin Ireland
Top 10 Things To Do In Dingle On Your First Visit
Fantastic 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
You Kiss The Blarney Stone On Your Back And Upsidedown
So, finally, it is your turn to kiss the Blarney Stone. Do not worry one bit, as there are several assistants there to help you.
First off, give your camera to your family or one of the Blarney assistants, because you do not want to let this moment you have been waiting for go by without documentation.
The assistants will help you to sit down first of all. Take your time. They are there to help you and keep you safe.
It will be a touch intimidating I know. I was a wee bit overwhelmed myself, but do not give up. You can do it!
Next, you will lie down and resituate your body closer to the ledge where the Blarney Stone is.
Ask the helpers exactly which stone is the Blarney Stone, so you know where to put your head and neck. The assistants will give you guidance and help.
And then finally, tilt your head back, and kiss the Blarney Stone to never be lost for words again in your life.
At least that’s what the legend promises. Your family will be snapping pictures of you and you will enjoy them all afterward.
The assistants will complete their jobs by helping you first sit up, then finally stand up and help you move along as they prepare for the next person.
The Blarney Stone Will Be Wiped Clean If You Ask
Please know that those working so diligently right at the Blarney Stone to make sure you have a wonderful experience when you kiss the Blarney Stone.
They will wipe it clean with an antimicrobial wipe before you kiss it if you request.
I brought my own wipes with me, but they declined and used their own to swipe right before it was my turn to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Visit The Stable Yard Cafe For A Bite To Eat Or Drink
You will probably want to stop and rest during your meandering of the Blarney Castle grounds sometime during your visit there.
The Stable Yard Cafe is the place to go. Located in an old stable near the manor house, the cafe has its own interesting history to share with you.
Snacks and drinks and light meals are available for you to enjoy.
A Stop At The Blarney Castle Shop Is Great For Souvenirs And Postcards
Located on your way out, with exceptionally charming associates, the Blarney Castle Shop is your last place to visit to cap off the eventful day you kiss the Blarney Stone.
You will find postcards galore for family back home. There are lots of quirky and interesting items for guys and gals.
And many options for souvenirs and mementos. To remember your visit to kiss the Blarney Stone and wandering through the gardens and streams of the Blarney Castle.
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Packing Tips For Your Trip To Ireland To Kiss The Blarney Stone
I think that using these useful packing tips will enhance your trip to Ireland in general, and to Blarney, in particular. I hope it will help you remain organized while there.
A concealed travel pouch may be one of the most important items you bring during your visit to Ireland. This unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight and comes in several colors.
It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind. You can keep your most valuable documents safe and secure next to your body.
If you have a pouch already you may not want to or need to invest in a new one, like me. If it does not come with the RFID protection, these RFID sleeves would be handy to prevent identity theft.
This configuration comes with enough passport and credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your current pouch or wallet.
Don’t forget to bring along a universal power adapter on your trip to Ireland. This worldwide power plug is a great example and will charge your phone at the end of your busy days.
And this world traveler adapter kit can charge several devices at the same time.
This is what you will need when there are several people traveling in your group, or if you bring several electronic devices on your trip that require charging at the same time.
If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone you will definitely want to consider an external charging battery.
This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips. It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like I have.
And wow is it fast! I like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so I do not have to worry about it while out and about.
And if I forget to recharge it at night, it will still be good to go the next day.
My daughter gifted me with this FugeTek Selfie Stick and Tripod for my birthday. It has Bloothtooth connectivity so it is very easy to use.
It is made of durable aluminum and is very lightweight and easy to carry. I love mine and I think you will enjoy it too!
Hydration is so important. You want to remain hydrated to support your immune system which in turn will be stronger to fight off any germs you will encounter during your travels.
You will want to bring your own refillable water bottle with you. I never leave home on a trip without my Bobble filtration bottle.
Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium. Then this set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles would work well for you.
Would not take up much space in your suitcase at all.
I was never a fan of packing cubes until I tried them out! Now I am sold. These Bagail packing cubes are the exact ones I use whenever I travel. I cannot believe how much more organized I am now!
You will want to bring a backpack or daypack with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc.. This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great.
It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.
Perhaps you need a more substantial backpack for your international travel. This antitheft backpack has a charging port, is water-resistant and can comfortably carry up to a 15.6″ laptop.
It comes in a range of colors to choose from and it is inexpensive as well.
You will be walking more than usual when visiting Ireland. A sturdy and comfortable pair of walking shoes is a must-have. These waterproof all-season shoes are extremely affordable and yet fashionable.
Mostly everyone is familiar with the Skechers brand, and these Air Run high fashion sneakers come in a lot of colors to match your outfits and are still affordable.
I sometimes bring along Vionic Tides flip flops. The toe post is so comfortable which makes wearing these super comfortable.
We all need to protect our eyes from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. These unisex polarized sunglasses come in a lot of lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable too.
If you are fond of the aviator-style of sunglasses these polarized aviators may interest you. I like polarized sunglasses because they remove the glare and help you to see things more clearly.
If you are in need of new luggage, this expandable soft side spinner luggage is affordable and comes in lots of colors.
If you like hard-sided better, then you may favor this hard-sided luggage set better.
Both sets come with TSA approved zippers locks and 8 wheels per piece. Either will be great for the plane or train or even your car depending on how you plan to travel to Ireland.
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To kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of the gab is an unforgettable and very unique experience.
I hope you use my tips above to have a great and leisurely experience as you plan your trip to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Have you ever been to Ireland and made the trip to Blarney to kiss the Blarney Stone? How was your experience? Please leave a comment below to share your experience. Do you now speak eloquently with the gift of gab?
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It was also my mission to kiss the Blarney Stone on my last visit to Ireland and could have done with your blog post before going. We got there super early so didn’t face a massive queue but as we were visiting en-route to Dublin we also didn’t leave enough time to fully explore everything. I also never got my picture as I wrongly assumed you pick them up in the exit gift shop. I guess I’ll have to go back someday!
See? Like us, not many realize there is so much to do on the grounds of Blarney Castle. At least you now have “the gift of gab” after kissing the stone backwards & upside down!
It looks so fun, I shall have to go. Thanks for the info.
You are welcome. I think you should go and do it! ☘️
I kissed the Blarney Stone too 🙂 I didn’t expect to have to do a full back bend in order to kiss it! But, I did it! WOO! Mission accomplished!
Yay. Woohoo indeed. Congrats. ☘️☘️
I also had no idea there was so much to explore on the castle grounds. We kissed the Blarney Stone while on an organized tour and were on limited time. Going back and will definitely tour the grounds.
Yes, there is so much more to see and explore. I do hope you get back there! ☘️
I strongly suggest you ask them to use the antibacterial wipes. At the very least for the various flu bugs and colds and who knows what the previous kissers left there. Also, rumor has it that local boys like to sneak in and “relieve themselves” on the stone at night! 😛
Yes. I encourage everyone to ask to have the stone wiped.
Thanks for all the wonderful tips Linda! What time of year did you visit Blarney Castle?
We went in late May. It was not too hot and a great time of year.
My daughter and I were on a group tour. We kissed the Blarney Stone and were able to explore the grounds, magnificent!. My favorite was the Poison Garden. Hope to go back.
I remember the Poison Garden very well! I hope to return someday as well. ☘️
I kissed the Blarney Stone on my birthday last year! It was such a fun experience, one of my best birthdays ever! My mom and I were in Ireland for the first time and we were both a bit nervous as we are both scared of heights. We fought through our fear and both kissed the stone, an experience we will never forget! And they did take our photo and we bought it in the gift shop.
What a wonderful memory. I love that you travel with your mom. That is very cool!
My wife and I took the time to kiss the stone, what a great time. We spent over 7 hours walking the grounds and were glad we did. There was still more to see and the manor house was closed for renovations. soooo… guess I’m gonna have to go back and spend another day or two there!!
Well good for you guys. So glad you had an entire day to spend at the Blarney estate. ☘️
I went a few years ago, by myself, so alas, no one to take a picture and I didn’t buy the one they took. I didn’t drive–instead, I took a bus out of Cork (maybe a 20-30 minute ride), and spent the afternoon at the castle and grounds. There were just a few people in line ahead of me to kiss the stone and the assistant told me exactly where to kiss. I didn’t think to ask them to wipe it off, though… Wish I’d had that tip then!
Sounds like a great day at the Blarney Castle.
Good post. I certainly appreciate this website. Keep it up!|
Thank you very much.
I kissed the stone last week, on my first visit to Ireland. I agree with this article except to say that if you want a snack and drink afterwards, it’s best to walk over to the Woolen Mills shop next door. Much more variety, and great gifts too. When our group was dropped off we were warned we could probably do only one of two things- see the Mills and the Blarney Castle gardens, OR kiss the stone, not both. Most of us chose to kiss the stone.
Hi John. Thank you for sharing your experience at Blarney Castle!