castles historical around blarney

The world renowned Blarney Castle and the legendary Blarney Stone can be found in the charming village of Blarney, just 7km north of Cork city in County Cork.

Built nearly 1000 years ago for the McCarthy Clan, Blarney Castle remains one of Ireland's oldest castles. Blarney Castle and the world famous Blarney Stone should not be missed by anyone visiting the South West of Ireland.


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This castle was once the club-house of Monkstown Golf-club, from 1908 to 1971.  At the moment the castle is under reconstruction and will not be finished until April 2009!

This castle was built by Anastasia Archdeacon, nee Gould, about 1636.
She built it while her husband was away at sea, and having deducted the cost of the mason's board and lodgings from the total cost, she found she had only paid 4d for the whole castle.

It consists of a...

The Blarney Stone may have imparted the gift of eloquence but it did not necessarily bring good fortune. The MacCarthys forfeited their castle in the Williamite War and it was later acquired by the St. John Jefferyes family. In the 18th century James St. John Jefferys built a fanciful Georgian Gothic mansion attached to the old castle. But the house burned down and was never rebuilt.

Instead in 1874 a Scottish baronial mansion was built nearby overlooking Blarney Lake. The house i...

Located on the River Lee, it has a long history associated with it.
Dating originally to the reign of James I, the castle was destroyed by the fire in 1827 and rebuilt by the Pain Brothers in 1830.

The coat of arms of the castle depicts the castle as one of the strongholds protecting the harbour. The area is the host of some fine views, and the area has a nice riverside walk from the Atlantic pond eastwards.

The castle is now an observatory with an...