Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The stone of Elequence!
CORK, IRELAND, Feb 22, 2008 --- 22/02/2008
Blarney Castle, Blarney, Co. Cork Weds. February 20, 2008 - Responding to media queries to-day, the owners of Blarney Castle said they wanted to reassure the millions who have visited the world-famous Blarney Stone in search of the ‘gift of the gab’ that they had kissed the correct stone.
“We have 400,000 visitors a year who come to visit one of Ireland’s longest established and most famous tourist attractions”, said Mr. Charles Colthurst, owner of the Blarney Estate. “I would like to assure the millions of people who have kissed the stone in the past, that this is the exact location and has been since as far back as all historical records show. To question the authenticity of the Stone is simply a load of Blarney and should be treated as such.
“This study published today, with all due respect, highlights contradictory nineteenth-century descriptions of the nature and position of the Blarney stone. These are, as these accounts tend to be, highly anecdotal, and by no means always accurate in their characterisation of archaeological features. For example the study suggests from Samuel Reynolds Hole’s account of 1858, illustrated by John Leech (which show two ladies descending from the north east stairway after, as they believe, having actually kissed an alternative ‘Blarney Stone’), that the present stone was not always the ‘real’ Blarney Stone. Of course they cannot point to any physical evidence for this assertion.
“This was conveniently lost when, as they claim, ‘the parapet on the north-east lookout turret was lost, perhaps deliberately for safety reasons’, for which there is no archaeological evidence.”
As part of the ongoing management of this historic and world famous structure a full Archaeological Survey was commissioned by the owners, Mr. Colthurst said.
“All comment should be treated in the overall context, somewhat lightheartedly and as a load of Blarney, loathe though we are to spoil a good story with boring facts!”
For more information please contact:
Marketing Department
Blarney Castle
Blarney
Co. Cork
Ireland
Tel: 00 353 21 438 5252
Fax: 00 353 21 438 1518
Email: info@blarneycastle.ie