Visitors from all over the world flock here to see the legendary Blarney Stone, the kissing of which
is supposed to confer a magical eloquence. Little remains of the castle except the keep, built in
1446 by Dermot McCarthy. According to legend, McCarthy was involved in a lawsuit, and appealed to
the goddess Clíodhna for her help. She told him to kiss the first stone he found in the morning,
on his way to court. He did so, and when he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won, he
incorporated the stone into the parapet of the castle. The Blarney Stone is thus said to impart
the “ability to deceive without offending”.