Blarney

Since we are celebrating the Irish today, I thought I would share a few pictures of Blarney taken on our trip to the International Quilt Festival of Ireland in 2012.  First of all, the Blarney Woolen Mills was fantastic.  It had a nice restaurant on one side, where we ate lunch, and a wonderful shop on the other side where I did NOT have enough time to shop :)  We were the very last ones on the bus because of me.... shopping.... And I'm not a huge shopper - but this place was awesome.

Of course we had to go in the Blarney Castle. We simply couldn't go all the way to Ireland and not kiss the Blarney Stone, which is located up at the TOP of the castle.

Legend has it that kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of "Blarney", which is "clever, flattering, or coaxing talk".  John O'Connor Power's definition is: "Blarney is something more than mere flattery.  It is flattery sweetened by humor and flavored by wit. Those who mix with Irish folk have many examples of it in their everyday experience."

Here at the top of the castle, after climbing a narrow spiral stone staircase, you lie on your back.  The man in the red coat in this picture holds onto you as you lean backwards and upside down to kiss the stone.

This is how high up you are - this was taken from the top looking down into the center courtyard.  The stone was set into a tower in the castle in 1446.

I cannot remember if Mike is waiting to kiss the stone here, or had already kissed it!  He looks happy anyway - we were having a great time!

Here is a rather unattractive picture of me kissing the Blarney Stone :)  Yes I really kissed it after who knows how many other millions of people have kissed it and no, they don't clean it off in between kisses - but hey!  Now I have the gift of Blarney :)

Gorgeous view from up on top of the castle.

The castle's moat - view from the top.

Views from the ground.

There must be some shamrocks in here somewhere!




And a  Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye all!!

Here is a quilt shop for you to visit when you go to Ireland :)













I know it's not corn beef and cabbage, but we did have green pancakes for dinner last night!