Ever heard of the fountain of youth? How about a rock that will give you the power of persuasion? Found in Ireland is the Blarney Stone located at the Blarney Castle near the city of Cork. But the power does not come from acquiring fragments of such rock- you have to kiss it with body upside down. In 1446, the Blarney Stone was put into a tower of the castle and now it has iron rails and protective bars as safeguards. But before these were installed, a person must be held on the ankles and dangled head first to perform the kiss.
The origin of the legend begins with Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the man who built the Blarney Castle. He got involved in a law case that he had to defend himself in court. He requested the help of the goddess Cl?odhna who told him to kiss the first stone he will find in the morning on the way to the court. He did exactly what was asked of him and he managed to successfully win his case with such an eloquent defense.
There were other stories about where the stone came from. Some say that it was originally in Ireland, brought to Scotland then returned. Some say that it was a gift from Robert the Bruce to Cormac McCarthy in exchange of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn. Another story even tells of Queen Elizabeth I asking an oath of loyalty from Cormac Teige McCarthy to keep occupying the land. His response was of clever diplomacy, promising loyalty to the Queen but without "giving in". The Queen then said that McCarthy gave her "(a lot of) blarney".
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