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.
read morePlan Your Visit
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 |
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!
See What Customers Are Saying About Blarney Castle
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 nowNews & Events
3
SeptemberAugust Brings a Bumper Harvest
August was another extremely busy month for us here in the gardens, and with the continued dry weather, it’s been a challenge to keep up. It feels like things are…
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7
AugustA 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…
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2
JulyJune 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.…
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3
JuneMaybe 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…
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28
AprilA 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…
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3
AprilMarch 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…
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6
MarchFebruary 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…
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5
FebruaryA 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…
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2
JanuaryA 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…
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4
DecemberNew 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…
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4
NovemberAutumns 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…
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3
OctoberAll 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…
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3
SeptemberArt 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…
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21
AugustThrough 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…
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16
AugustA 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…
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4
JulyGetting 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…
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31
MayMay 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…
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7
MayApril 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,…
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4
AprilA 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.…
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4
MarchFebruary 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…
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29
JanuaryNot 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.…
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3
JanuaryDecember 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…
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5
DecemberNo 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,…
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7
NovemberA 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…
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2
OctoberSaying 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.…
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13
SeptemberA 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…
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2
AugustJuly 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…
Read More
5
JulyJuggling 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…
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2
JuneLovely 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…
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28
AprilA 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…
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31
MarchThe 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…
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1
MarchMoving 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…
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3
FebruaryA 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…
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5
JanuaryNew 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…
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2
DecemberNovember 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…
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2
NovemberAutumns 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…
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30
SeptemberAll 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.…
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31
AugustSculptures 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…
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30
JuneSculptures, 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…
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22
JuneAutumn 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…
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22
JunePumpkins 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…
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22
JunePre-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…
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13
JuneNew 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…
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13
JuneSpring 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…
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1
JuneA 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…
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29
AprilA 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…
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30
MarchMarch 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…
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28
FebruaryA 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,…
Read More