The reason for the change (from the dangling by their ankles) used to be given that they lost a few would-be kissers that way. :') Mono, anyone?
Blarney Castle:
Its History,
Development
and Purpose
by Mark Samuel
and Kate Hamlyn
Posted on 02/21/2008 1:48:58 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The authenticity of the Blarney Stone, kissed by about 400,000 tourists a year, has been questioned by Mark Samuel, an archaeologist and architectural historian, and Kate Hamlyn in a new book... the authors say the present stone only came into use in 1888 -- for health and safety reasons. Up until then, those wishing to place their lips on the stone had to be dangled from the castle by two people holding their ankles. Today those wishing to ensure they will never be tongue tied lie on their back and, holding on to an iron railing, lean backwards from the parapet walk to smooch the stone... Marketing manager John Fogarty told AFP the Blarney Stone is a piece of the Stone of Scone or "Stone of Destiny", on which the kings of Scotland were crowned... Fogarty said that the part of the stone that came to Blarney was given to an Irish king, Cormac MacCarthy, by Scotland's king Robert the Bruce. It was a gift in gratitude for 4,000 Irish soldiers said to have been sent to aid Scotland when Robert defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Blarney Castle:
Its History,
Development
and Purpose
by Mark Samuel
and Kate Hamlyn
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Gods |
I'd try it, but I'd wind up with farty shades of green. |
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· Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
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To which the King proclaimed: "I got a rock!"
And promptly changed his name to Cormac McCharlieBrown.
When I was in Mexico, I went to some old pueblo and kissed, what turned out to be, the diarrea stone.
When I was in San Francisco, I kissed a man named Stone
LOL!
Went to Blarney Castle almost two years ago. Because I’ve got bad knees, I decided not to climb up the long spiral staircase to see the stone. Laying down and leaning way back to kiss the stone wasn’t anything I’d have been able to do without wrenching my back, so I just walked around the grounds over to Blarney House taking photos. I simply figured I didn’t need the “gift of gab” any more than I already had.
That did the trick for me... uh, oh, never mind...
I’m a little suspicious of any town with a neighborhood called “the Tenderloin”.
I thought the locals pulled a trick on people and peed on it at night...
I think they pretty much pee on everything while walking home.
We like you just the way you are.
Blarney looks like it’s built of Rubble.
LOL!!! Thanks. You’re about the only ones who do :-)
I went in the late 80’s and when I got to the top and saw a line of people kissing a rock by bending over backwards supported by two strong guys, I intuited that: (1) a lot of slobber was on that rock; (2) the big guys were only interested in viewing “certain features” of gorgeous young women visible from ‘upside down’; (3) the whole thing was “blarney.”
I said “forget it, lads, point me to where I can get meself some Guinness.” And they did...happily I might add.
I speak just as much as I ever did and quite eloquently too, if I can say so meself. And I drink far more Guinness, Lord save me!
Francis
Did this almost three years ago and while it was a bit ridiculous, we had a blast. Climbing up and then BACK DOWN those narrow spiral staircases was quite a hair-raising experience.
The grounds were beautiful. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day! I’d go back and do it again in a second.
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