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Writer's pictureWilma Gundy

Unusual Experiences - Kissing the Blarney Stone

March - the month of St Patrick’s Day, three-leaf shamrocks, and those pesky leprechauns - makes me reflect on my Irish ancestors. My paternal grandparents - last name Davis - hale from County Cork. So when Lloyd and I visited Ireland in 1988, I felt compelled to kiss the Blarney Stone.


When as a child, my dad told me about it, I envisioned it as a rock lying on the ground. Not so, I discovered. It is located on the top floor of a three-story ancient castle, Blarney Castle in County Cork.



Blarney Castle


All of the wooden parts of the castle have long since deteriorated and the stone walls are all that remain. After visitors ascend to the top floor, there is a narrow walkway all around the four sides of the structure. As you walk, you can - if you dare - look down at the ground three stories below!


Lloyd wanted nothing to do with kissing the stone. He found the idea of kissing a stone that millions have kissed revolting. He tried to talk me out of it, but I could not be persuaded.


I had no idea that one has to lean over backwards to kiss the small stone. Pictures show bars you can grab as, lying on your back, you lean over and put your head down to kiss it. The terror of the moment erases them from my memory. I do remember a man holding my legs as I perilously leaned over, reached my head back and kissed the Blarney Stone!


Wilma Gundy

To be continued…







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lfincken
Mar 12

Wilma, this brought back memories of my Mom. She and my Dad had traveled to Ireland and being a proud Irish woman she too wanted to kiss the Blarney Stone.

I have a very similar photo of my Mom doing the same thing.

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