blarney castle
TRANSCRIPT
Blarney CastleBlarney Castle
Blarney Castle Blarney Castle, as seen today, is the third to
have been erected on this site.
10th century – it was originally a timber hunting lodge
1210 A.D. – Replaced by a stone structure. This building was demolished for foundations.
1446 - third and present day castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster.
Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster
The lower walls and angle tower of the castle was built by Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, who is said to have supplied 4,000 men from Munster to help the forces of Robert the Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn in England in 1314.
Blarney Stone Legend has it that
Robert the Bruce gave half of the Stone of
Scone to McCarthy in thanks. (Scottish kings were crowned over the stone because it was
believed to have special powers) This, now
known as the Blarney Stone, was built into the
battlements where it can now be kissed.
Queen Elizabeth I
The English Queen wanted McCarthy to surrender the castle. McCarthy promised repeatedly to hand it over
but never did.
Queen Elizabeth I is reported to have said ‘’I’m
fed up with all this Blarney!’ – giving a new word to the language for
soft and false talk.
What a load of
Blarney!
Kissing the Blarney Stone is siad to give you ‘the gift of the gab’ – the gift of
eloquence!
Cromwell's General, Lord Broghill
The Castle remained the stronghold of the McCarthy family until the arrival of Oliver
Cromwell with cannon guns in 1646. However, when Cromwell’s men entered the castle McCarthy & his soldiers had fled by the underground caves situated below the
castle known as the Badgers Caves.
Fifteen years later, with the arrival of King
Charles II on the English throne, the McCarthys returned to the
Castle.
Battle of the Boyne 1690
The McCarthys supported the Catholic King James in the war against Protestant William of Orange.
William won.
As punishment the McCarthy lost all their land and were banished from Ireland.
Sold to Sir James St. John Jefferyes in 1688
The Castle was sold to Sir James Jefferyes, Governor of Cork in 1703. Sir Jefferyes built a new mansion rather than live in the old, cold castle. The Castle is now owned and managed by the Trustees of the Blarney Castle Estate.
Legend of Blarney Lake
When the McCarthy’s fled the castle legend says they threw the castle treasures into Blarney lake.
In 1786, Lady Jefferyes tried to drain the lake to find the treasure. Thousands turned up to help but nothing was found and they were mocked at.
Goodbye from Blarney!