Blarney (An Bhlarna in Gaelic) is a small village in County Cork, Ireland. Located less than 8m from Cork, it’s a popular tourist destination, thanks to its famous castle (Blarney Castle) and its famous “Stone of Eloquence”.

Visit Blarney

A tourist village famous for its castle

Blarney has a population of around 3,000. But the area can get crowded during the tourist season, when thousands of travelers line up to visit Blarney Castle.

Tradition dictates that they visit the building, learn more about local medieval history, then go and kiss the Stone of Eloquence. According to Irish legend, this stone would give them the gift of eloquence, provided they kissed it upside down!

Among other tourist attractions, don’t miss Blarney Woollen Mills, a village mill built in 1823. Until the 1970s, this traditional water-powered mill produced tweed and wool. Then closed, the site reopened its doors by converting the Mill into a souvenir store.

As for the town center, it’s a typical Irish village, with its colorful houses, Irish pubs, restaurants and shops. It’s a great place to stroll, do a bit of shopping and leave.