Blarney Castle

Welcome to Blarney Castle, the home of the Blarney Stone

Built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftans, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney making it a world landmark and one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.

Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of our tower. Kiss it and you’ll never again be…

Our History

Ours is a beguiling history that stretches back across the generations. Find out more about the Castle, who built it, and some of its more colourful inhabitants.

Opening Times

Castle & Gardens Open All Year Round!
Tickets & Prices

Buy in advance online.
Getting Here

Our locations is easy to spot from most parts of the city

Opening Times

Explore the entire gardens, mystical rock close, dungeons, caves, lake walk & much more!

Jan/Feb/Mar	9.00am - 5.00pm (Last Admission 4.00pm)
Apr	9.00am to 5.30pm (Last Admission 4.30pm)
May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep	9.00am to 6.00pm (Last Admission 5.00pm)
Oct	9.00am to 5.30pm (Last Admission 4.30pm)
Nov/Dec	9.00am to 5.00pm (Last Admission 4.00pm)
Dec 24th & Dec 25th	Closed
Dec 26th & Jan 1st	10.00am to 5.00pm (Last Admission 4.00pm)

Book your Tickets!

Buy tickets in advance online or at our ticket office on arrival. We do not have timed slots.

Adult Admission	€23
Student/Seniors (65 years and over)	€18
Children (6-16 years / 5 & under free) (Must be accompanied by an Adult)	€11
Family (2 adults + 2 children)	€60

Book Tickets

Directions & Travel Information

Blarney Castle is situated in Blarney Village which is 8 km northwest from Cork city in the South of Ireland. See the map below for more details.

Directions from Cork Airport

From Airport follow signs for City Centre
From City Centre follow signs for Limerick (N20)
Travel for 7 km; exit left (signposted Blarney)
Arrive at Blarney

Directions from Shannon

By Car: Follow the road to Limerick. Then follow signs for Mallow and take the turn off before Cork City to Blarney.
By Bus: There is a direct bus from Shannon Airport to Cork City, check out www.buseireann.ie for information on bus timetables.

There are no direct routes via train from Shannon to Cork.

Directions from Dublin

By Car: It takes 3-4 hours to get from Dublin to Cork. Take the N8 motorway and follow the signs south for Cork, then on to Blarney.
Public Transport: Trains leave for Cork on a regular basis. Check www.irishrail.ie for further information on timetables. Or phone Kent Train Station, Cork; Telephone + 353 21 456 766 www.buseireann.ie for bus timetables Aircoach: a bus leaves Dublin airport eight times a day directly for Cork, it is the cheapest way but can take anywhere from 5-7 hours depending on traffic. See www.aircoach.ie for more information.

Our Most Popular Places

There are those who think that you come to Blarney Castle only to see the stone. But most leave knowing that the Blarney Stone is only a part of our attraction. Scroll down and have a look at the other interesting things to see and do while you are with us!

Stone
Castle
Gardens

The Stone of Eloquence

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence…

The Kitchen

The room above the ‘Priest’s Room’, perhaps once the finest bedroom, was converted in the 16th century into the kitchen.…

Chapel, Banqueting Hall & Family Room

A flight of steps leads down from the parapet to the serving area outside the kitchen, with a view down…

The Dungeon

Below the lookout tower on the way up to the Castle are a dog kennel and sentry box guarding the…

Walls and Bawn

Blarney Castle would have been surrounded by a defensive wall, which enclosed an area of about 8 acres called the…

Great Trees

The gardens at Blarney Castle contain an exceptional collection of specimen trees, some the largest of their kind in Ireland.…

Herbaceous Border

A 100-metre-long double herbaceous border, topped off with an 80m rose pergola is certainly a sight to behold. A display…

Poison Garden

This garden was created with the purpose of educating visitors about the poisonous plants that can be found both in…

The Seven Sisters

The Blarney Stone is not the only stone with legends attached to it. Just northeast of the Castle can be…

See What Customers Are Saying About Blarney Castle

This place was stunning. There is SO much more to Blarney Castle than the stone. You can easily spend an entire day here exploring the grounds. The druid caves are mystical, the gardens are gorgeous, the castle itself is huge and wild. I wasn’t going to go to Blarney, because I thought the stone was a very touristy thing to do. But I went, and I am 1000% glad that I did.

Juli Harland

The castle and the grounds are wonderful to experience. There is so much more to this than ‘kissing the Blarney stone’. Beautiful flowers, statues, woods, and rock formations. Can easily take 3 – 4 hours to see it all.

Kat W

Come for the stone, stay for the gardens! No but seriously, the gardens are the main attraction. You could easily spend half a day exploring them. One of the most impressive botanical gardens we’ve ever visited.

Karolina J

A most awesome way to spend at least 3 hours with enough to fill 6.
So many things to see and do in the gardens and woodland. The bee keeping, the Rock Close, the Fern Garden is amazing. So many people think this is just the Blarney Stone. The “bee line” up and down miss all the little side rooms, hidden staircases and room within a room. Especially the kids room off the main kitchen. Of course the Blarney stone. Staying at the Blarney Castle Hotel makes this visit so easy. Breakfast and into the grounds early, stay late.
No line for the experience kissing the Stone.

Peter Watson

This is a real paradise if you love nature. Huge variety of trees, bushes and flowers. Large area containing a lake. There are horses and donkeys. I really enjoyed spending time in this incredibly beautiful park. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, bring water and snacks, bedding. This is an unforgettable vacation for at least 4 hours, where you can completely relax from all worries and fuss.

Olga Zagorulko

Spectacular – cannot begin to explain the wonder and awe of this place. From the castle and its beautiful surrounding gardens to being able to kiss the blarney stone. Definitely one for the bucket list.

Warren Kent

Beautiful gardens and castle. It was amazing walking through the gardens, so peaceful and quite with such a variation of views ( from the fern forest to the lake to the pinetum). The Castle itself and the surrounding history are very interesting and the views are spectacular from the castle.
Perfect place to go yourself, with your significant other or family. I would definitely recommend this place.
Revisited the gardens and castle and still love it, there’s just so much to explore.

Liam Ó

Welcome To
Blarney Castle Shop

Here you will find something for everyone – each item handpicked with the charm, quality and quirkiness you’d expect from Blarney Castle. From exclusive gifts for him and her, through to garments, paintings, souvenirs and mementos.

Shop now

News & Events

7

August

A Dry July

July has been extremely busy, and I am delighted to see so many visitors exploring the full extent of the grounds and gardens. There is so much to see, and…

2

July

June is Heaven Scent

June is always a touch chaotic in the gardens, as we juggle jobs and attempt to catch up with the growth of the weeds in between the regular maintenance jobs.…

3

June

Maybe a bit too dry?

May was a very dry month here in the gardens and we spent a great deal of time watering. As a result of that, we have seen a bloom in…

28

April

A Stunning end to April

The grounds and gardens are absolutely beautiful right now. There is something amazing around every corner, with drifts of blue Camassia in the meadows below the castle, a multitude of…

3

April

March up the Cherry Walk

We are finally getting some real spring weather and it is very exciting to see the gardens bursting into life again. I would say that we are around two weeks…

6

March

February Flew!

February flew by as usual. It’s always a busy month as we try to prepare for the coming tourist season, and this year was no exception. The very wet weather…

5

February

A Stormy January

January was an extremely busy month, and unfortunately not all for good reasons. Winter storms have been particularly bad this year, and we are still continuing the clean-up from storm…

2

January

A mildly confusing December

It’s been a very mild winter so far, and as we exit December and move into a new year, I’m seeing some very confused plants. Our early daffodil avenue is…

4

December

New Trees in November

November has been a real mixed month weather wise. I’m sure the plants don’t know if they’re coming or going with the ups and downs in temperature. There were a…

4

November

Autumns Rich Tapestry

We are experiencing a wonderful autumn here in the gardens. The colours this year are simply breathtaking, with buttery yellows, burning reds, and coppery tones of orange creating a blazing…

3

October

All Change in September

As we exit September and head into October, we can see the real change in the season. The nights are drawing in and there is a distinct chill in the…

3

September

Art and Apples

August was extremely busy here in the gardens, both with visitor numbers and with work. I feel like this summer has flown by in a blur, but it’s been great…

21

August

Through the Artist’s Eye

Aug 28th - Sept 29th Blarney Castle & Gardens are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the ‘Through the Artist’s eye’ exhibition which will take place from the…

16

August

A Refreshing Review

The gardens are looking great at the moment, with colour around every corner, and so many things to discover. There are certain areas of the gardens that deserve a special…

4

July

Getting Wild in June

I think to say that June was a busy month here in the gardens would be a bit of an understatement! We have been spread thinly across the gardens as…

31

May

May it finally be Summer?

The gardens are looking stunning right now, and special mention goes to the Laburnum arch in the Poison Garden, and the rose pergola on our Herbaceous border, which are both…

7

May

April Showers Over?

Having started April with a continuation of the extremely wet weather that has plagued us throughout the year so far, it would seem that things are finally starting to improve,…

4

April

A Muddy March

March has been a challenging month due to the constant rain. We usually have our construction and landscaping projects completed by now, but the ground conditions have held everything up.…

4

March

February Fun

February has been an extremely busy month for us here in the gardens. There has been a sudden explosion of colour, as spring bulbs and spring flowering trees and shrubs…

29

January

Not Enough Days in January

January has flown by, and I can’t believe that I’m already writing this. We are extremely busy in the grounds and gardens as we prepare for the coming tourist season.…

December Daffodils and Christmas Delights

3

January

December Daffodils and Christmas Delights

December has passed in the usual festive blur, leaving me slightly befuddled but full of Christmas cheer, or is that pudding? and hopeful for great things in 2024. As we…

5

December

No signs of winter…yet!

November has been an incredibly mild month overall, and we are still waiting for any period of prolonged frost to let the plants know that winter has arrived. That said,…

7

November

A wet October

I am writing this in my office whilst the rain hammers against the windows. It has become a very familiar sound over the last couple of weeks and has certainly…

2

October

Saying goodbye to Summer

As September finishes, I can already see signs of autumn, with a drop in temperature, our first real storm of the season and gathering flocks of starlings in the treetops.…

13

September

A Prehistoric arrival in August

August has been another busy month for us, and I think we are starting to see the first signs of autumn creeping into the trees with hints of yellow and…

2

August

July Flies By!

July has been extremely busy, and I am delighted to see so many visitors exploring the full extent of the grounds and gardens. There is so much to see, and…

5

July

Juggling Jobs in June

June has flown by in a blur of watering, weeding and generally juggling jobs as we try to keep everything looking it’s best, or in some cases simply alive! Watering…

2

June

Lovely Laburnum

I think May saw the garden shake off it’s spring coat and move firmly into summer dress mode! The growth over the last month has been exceptional, particularly due to…

28

April

A Floral Extravaganza as April Ends

The gardens are looking truly fabulous right now. Every turn reveals another beautiful vista, be it drifts of tulips by the entrance, swathes of blue Camassia in the meadows below…

31

March

The March of the Cherries

The colour in the gardens is amazing at the moment, with magnolias, cherries, rhododendron and various spring bulbs all competing for attention. So much of the past few years planting…

1

March

Moving into March and Magnolias

As we move into March, we can see that spring has arrived here in the gardens. In every corner there are pockets of crocus, narcissus and an array of other…

3

February

A Host of Golden Daffodils

I think that January is often seen as a slow month, but that is certainly not so for us here in the gardens. The month has flown by, and we…

5

January

New Year in Blarney

December is now behind us and as we enter 2023, I find myself looking forward to what I hope will be a great year in the gardens. The first signs…

2

December

November Not So Nippy

The Autumn colour around the gardens is magnificent right now, and well worth a trip in to see. I love to walk through the arboretums and along the riverside and…

2

November

Autumns Glorious Colours

October saw the start of autumn and the first hints of colour through the trees in the arboretums. The reds and yellows seem particularly good this year, and the lime…

30

September

All Change for Autumn

September simply flew by, and autumn is on its way. I can see the colours starting to change in the trees, and cooler, dew laden mornings are becoming the norm.…

31

August

Sculptures and Jellyfish

August was a very busy and interesting month for us here in the gardens. We launched this year’s sculpture trail, introduced a new pop-up garden featuring jellyfish, and harvested a…

30

June

Sculptures, Roses and Honey

As we exit June, I find myself feeling very positive about the coming summer season. Our overseas visitors are starting to return in larger numbers, and the locals continue to…

22

June

Autumn shades in September

September has passed by in a flash, and autumn has definitely arrived. Over the last few days, I’m seeing cooler, misty mornings, dew-laden grass and the first colour changes amongst…

22

June

Pumpkins and Autumn Walks

October is one of my favourite months as it generally brings dramatic changes throughout the grounds and gardens. It’s still fairly mild though, and we are still waiting for our…

22

June

Pre-Christmas Madness

November passed by in a flash and I suddenly find myself heading into the festive season feeling somewhat unprepared. The Christmas madness has descended on my house, and it may…

13

June

New Beginnings

December has passed in a blur, and I find myself looking into the new year with a renewed sense of hope. Spring is just around the corner and new life…

13

June

Spring in January

January certainly flew by here in the gardens. The weather has been very mild so far this winter, and it’s certainly creating some confusion. I am already seeing some trees…

1

June

A Magnificent May

May brought a sudden surge in growth throughout the grounds and gardens and we are surrounded by beautiful new growth, exceptional floral displays, and tonnes of weeds! It’s the same…

29

April

A Hectic April

April has seen an absolute riot of colour in the gardens and the show is only just beginning! The colours throughout the borders are exceptional, with magnolias, camellias, and early…

30

March

March into Spring

I’m going to start by saying, if you haven’t visited Blarney Castle Gardens then you are truly missing out. The grounds and gardens are simply beautiful, and the spring colours…

28

February

A Floriferous February

February has brought the promise of spring, and there are signs of it all through the gardens. Pockets of multicoloured flowers sparkle in the wet grass wherever you turn. Crocus,…

Welcome toBlarney Castle

Welcome to Blarney Castle, the home of the Blarney Stone

Our History

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

Tickets & Prices

Getting Here

Opening Times

Book your Tickets!

Directions & Travel Information

Directions from Cork Airport

Directions from Shannon

Directions from Dublin

Our Most Popular Places

The Stone of Eloquence

The Kitchen

Chapel, Banqueting Hall & Family Room

The Dungeon

Walls and Bawn

Great Trees

Herbaceous Border

Poison Garden

The Seven Sisters

See What Customers Are Saying About Blarney Castle

Juli Harland

Kat W

Karolina J

Peter Watson

Olga Zagorulko

Warren Kent

Liam Ó

Welcome To Blarney Castle Shop

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Welcome To
Blarney Castle Shop