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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".
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.
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