Monacnapa in Cork in County Cork, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)
Welcome to Blarney Castle & Gardens
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 15, 2026
1. Welcome to Blarney Castle & Gardens Marker
Welcome to Blarney Castle & Gardens
Blarney Castle is most famous for its stone, which has the traditional power of conferring eloquence on all who kiss it. The stone is set in the wall below the battlements, and to kiss it, one must lean backwards from the parapet walk.
Our gardens are one of the most visited in Ireland. The 100 acres are a joy to explore. Visit the prehistoric Fern Garden, a deadly Poison Garden, and our magical Rock Close with its ancient Yew trees and druidic stones. Make a wish on the famous wishing steps while the waterfall cascades alongside you. Stroll by the lake, riverside and woodlands or in the dazzlingly beautiful arboretums. The gardens are a constantly changing and evolving environment and each visit is a new experience.
Blarney Castle (Blarney Stone at Top)
Blarney Castle as you see it today, is the third to have been erected on this site. The first, a wooden building was built in the 10th century. Around 1210 this was replaced by a stone structure with an entrance some 20 feet above the ground on the north face. To this was added the tower in its present keep in its entirety.
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The Badgers Cave
When Cromwell’s general, Lord Broghill, besieged the castle, he fired down from Card Hill above the lake and broke the tower walls. Yet when he entered the castle, he found only two trusty old retainers. The main garrison had fled through the cave — Badgers Cave. All had gone — as well as the gold plate that Broghill expected to claim. Legend tells us there are three passages to find in the darkness beyond — one to Cork, one to the lake, and one all the way to Kerry. But this being Blarney, the passages may be as hard to find as the gold…
The Dungeons
Housed in the Dungeon was the Castle well, a vital amenity for everyday living, and so needing to be safely enclosed and to be accessible even if the Castle was under siege. So a tower was built above it, with steps leading up to the main courtyard.
Poison Garden
Hidden
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 15, 2026
2. Welcome to Blarney Castle & Gardens Marker
This marker is located near the entrance to Blarney Castle. Similar markers may be found across the grounds of the estate.
Fern Garden
In the heart of the Castle gardens you will find the magnificent sight of the Fern Garden. Follow the grassy path lined with wild flowers and you will be standing on a limestone cliff overlooking the ferns. If you continue to follow the path you will descend into a rocky amphitheatre that once functioned as a quarry for stone that may well now be part of the castle. Surrounding you will be over 100 varieties of ferns, ranging in size from a few centimetres up to an impressive 5 metre plus Dicksonia Antartica which happens to be the tallest kind of its kind in Ireland. Take a seat on our bench, surrounded by ferns and allow yourself to relax, taking in the soothing sounds of the waterfall and let the magic of this peaceful location takeover.
Rock Close (Waterfalls Located Here)
The Rock Close is a mystical place, said to be on the site of an ancient druidic settlement. Shaded by a leafy canopy of ancient yew trees, this part of the gardens has a feeling of magic. Most of the curious rocks stand today as they have stood for over 2,000 years, though some arrangements were created by the Jefferys Family in the 1750s as a fitting response to the natural features of the area. In this mysterious and hidden landscape are a druidic sacrificial altar, a witch’s kitchen, dolmen, wishing steps, fairy glade and much more! An area of mysticism and mystery and not to be missed on a visit to the gardens!
The Seven Sisters
Legend tells of a famous King of Munster who once ruled these lands. He had seven daughters and two sons. His rival was also a powerful clan chief and there came a time when the king had to defend his lands. One fateful day the army rode out to battle with the king and his two sons at the head of it. Although victorious, it came at a great cost, as both sons were killed in the fighting. The army marched back to the castle, on route passing the ancient druid’s stone circle that had stood for millennia. The king dispatched a contingent of men to the sacred site and in his grief he instructed them to push over two of the nine standing stones. This would forever commemorate his two fallen sons. The seven sisters remain standing to this day…
The Seven Sisters now form the central feature of a garden of grasses and perennial flowers, the soft and flowing forms of which are a great contrast to the solid immobile rocks that dominate the space. The garden changes with the seasons, but the timeless rock structure remains a constant.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1210.
Location. 51° 55.877′ N, 8° 34.101′ W. Marker is in Cork, Munster, in County Cork. It is in Monacnapa. It can be reached from The Square. The marker is located on the grounds of Blarney Castle & Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 The Square, Cork, Munster, Ireland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, on the Atlantic Arc, in Europe, on the Island of Ireland, on the Celtic Fringe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Welcome to Blarney Castle & Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); The Muskerry Tram Turntable (within shouting distance of this marker); Castle First Vista (within shouting distance of this marker); The Square & Village Green (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Square (about 120 meters away); Where Two Rivers Cross (about 120 meters away); Blarney World War I Memorial (about 180 meters away); a different marker also named The Square & Village Green (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cork.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
