The Blarne

y Castle

BY: Kierstin Kiser, Missy Over, Lauren Everett, and Karla

Peterson

Who?//What?WHO??

The Blarney Castle was built by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Dermont McCarthy, King of Munster in 1446.

WHAT??

Blarney castle was originally a

timber hunting lodge built in the 10th

century. It was later replaced by a stone

castle in 1210. Today the Blarney Castle

remains the ancestral stronghold of the

McCarthy family until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell with cannon

guns in 1646.

WHEN?o The timber hunting lodge was built in the

10th century. (1st building; wooden structure)

o The stone castle was built in 1210 A.D. (2nd structure)

o The present day construction was completed in 1446. (3rd structure)

?WHERE?

The Blarney castle is located in Blarney Village in the city of Cork, Ireland. (route N20 “Limerick”). This village has a population of about 2,500 inhabitants.

Phone Number: +353 21 438 1518

WHY?

The Castle was built more than 600 years ago, originally built for the use of a timber hunting lodge but became a stone Castle in 1210. The present day Castle was owned by the McCarthy family, until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell. 15 years later King Charles II returned the Castle back to the McCarthy’s.

Structure and Design of the Blarney

Castle

• The design of the Blarney Castle encompassed a height of eighty-five feet, with walls as thick as eighteen feet at the base.

• The original intent of the castle was to provide defense from enemies in the day of Irish Kings and their battles, and for this reason the dwelling is sometimes referred to as a “keep.”

• Spiral staircases lined the inside of the castle, with their steep narrowness allowed for only one person at a time to go through.

• Windows were narrow which were meant for ease of battlement but not for entrance.

• A parapet connecting the towers of the castle permitted defenders to shoot oncoming invaders.

Structure

• The Blarney Castle was almost like a small town surrounded by walls of stone.

• Inside these walls was a chapel with separate rooms that housed various priests.

• It also contained a “family” room, a banqueting hall, a sprawling kitchen, a room for the guards and a great hall from which other parts of the castle were accessible.

• The castle also included a kennel and a sentry, along with a dungeon.

• When the McCarthy's occupied the castle, it was also home to a large retinue of knights and retainers.

Description of the CASTLE• The Blarney Castle is a massive 5th century castle with walls 18ft/5.5mm thick and an 82ft/22m high tower

• It’s the strongest castle of Munster• It is the third structure to be built on its current location

• The first structure was a wooden structure built in the 10th century , and a stone structure replaced it in 1210 A.D. to further protect Cork of the surrounding wars and feuds going on during this time period

• On the vaulted upper floor of the castle is a large chimney

• Round top building of the castle runs a battlemented parapet walk

• The Blarney Stone is situated high up in the battlements of the castle, its an international landmark and tourist attraction

Description Continued

• The grounds of the castle which were laid out in the 18th century contain grove trees, and a pretty dell with a circle of large stones known as the Rock Close

• The Rock Close and its surroundings is a curious place of ancient stones , by legend garden of druidic origin and a center of worship in Pre-Christian days

• Surrounding the castle are beautiful and quite extensive gardens

The Blarney Stone

• It’s a blue stone built into the battlements of the castle

• Kissing the stone, according to the Irish legend endows the kisser the gift of gab ( great

eloquence or skill at flattery)

• The stone was set in the tower in 1446• Popular tourist site

• The word blarney now means clever, flattering or coaxing talk

Style of the Blarney Castle

• The style of the castle is Romanesque, but it has Georgian Gothic style as well

• The first castle built on the site was a wooden structure built in the 10th century

• The second structure in 1210 A.D. was a stone structure which had the entrance some twenty feet above ground on the north force /Romanesque

• In 1446 the Georgian Gothic style pieces were added on

“Romanesque”

• The style of Romanesque came to be characterized by the following:

» Heavy articulated masonry construction, with narrow openings

» The use of the round arch and barrel vault » Wall arcade or buttress » Development of the vaulting rib and shaft » Cylindrical apse and chapels » Introduction of central and western square, round or polygonal towers

» Ornamentation in the form of stylistically rendered animal and plant forms

“Gothic” Style

• Gothic architecture is a style Gothic architecture is a style of architecture which of architecture which

flourished in Europe during the flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. high and late medieval period.

It evolved from Romanesque It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture.by Renaissance architecture.

Function of the Blarney Function of the Blarney CastleCastle

• To Kiss the Blarney Stone To Kiss the Blarney Stone • Wedding parties (photos are free of charge)Wedding parties (photos are free of charge)

• Souvenir shop Souvenir shop • Money stationMoney station• Gardens to viewGardens to view• RefreshmentsRefreshments

• Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, an ancient stronghold of the McCarthys, an ancient stronghold of the McCarthys,

Lords of Muskerry, and one of the strongest Lords of Muskerry, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. It is also one of fortresses in Munster. It is also one of

IrelandIreland’’s biggest tourist attractionss biggest tourist attractions over over 300,000 people visit Blarney Castle each 300,000 people visit Blarney Castle each

year.year.

THE END