IN THIS BLOG
- Our Day Trip: Cahir, Blarney & the Rock of Cashel
- Cahir Castle
- A Little History
- Exploring the Castle
- Our Experience
- Blarney Castle & Gardens
- A Little History
- The Blarney Stone
- Exploring the Castle Gardens and Grounds
- Our Experience
- Rock of Cashel
- A Little History
- Exploring the Rock of Cashel
- Our Experience
- Pink Bear Retirement Vacation Rating
- Final Thoughts
- Tips
Our Day Trip: Cahir, Blarney & the Rock of Cashel
With a surname like O’Grady, it is not surprising that Ireland was on our bucket list. The funny thing is that we are mostly Italian. Our surname comes from Tom’s grandfather who was part Irish. But we love being Irish, even if just in part. We were all so excited to finally be visiting the birthplace of our ancestors, even Pink Bear. This day trip is part of our extensive family journey through Ireland. You can read about the entire journey on our Ireland Page of Pink Bear’s Retirement Adventures : https://pinkbearjourney.com/ireland-adventures/
Our day trip from Dublin to Cahir, Blarney and the Rock of Cashel combined three very different historic stops. It was a full day, but it gave us a wonderful mix of medieval history, beautiful scenery, gardens, ruins, and some of Ireland’s most recognizable landmarks.
We began at Cahir Castle, an impressive fortress sitting right along the River Suir. From there, we continued to Blarney, where the famous castle and Blarney Stone are only part of the experience. The surrounding gardens and grounds are extensive and worth taking time to explore. Our final stop was the dramatic Rock of Cashel, perched high above the surrounding countryside and filled with centuries of religious and political history.
Each stop felt completely different, which made the day especially enjoyable. Cahir was compact and atmospheric, Blarney was lively and expansive, and the Rock of Cashel provided a dramatic finish to the day. Together, they made for an excellent introduction to the castles, landscapes, and history of this part of Ireland.
Guide Services:
If you have been following our adventures, you know we like Tours by Locals. After reviewing the available tours, we decided to use one guide for all our day trips out of Dublin. We chose Brian Hennessy of Dubh Linn Tours. Brian was an excellent guide—very personable and knowledgeable, and he provided just the right amount of information throughout the day.
Cahir Castle
A Little History
Cahir Castle is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles. Located on an island in the River Suir, it was built in the 13th century and served as a stronghold for the Butler family. Due to its effective design, it stood for many years before falling during the Siege of 1599. Following the death of the last Lord Cahir in 1961, the castle later came into the care of the Irish state and underwent further conservation and restoration. Today, the well-preserved site is a popular tourist attraction and has appeared in major films such as Excalibur and The Last Duel.
Exploring the Castle
Cahir Castle is easy to explore, with well-preserved medieval architecture and lovely views of the River Suir. The surrounding town is also very walkable, with riverside trails and parks nearby. Visitors can wander through the fortress independently or take a 30-minute guided tour, which is included with admission. Audio-visual presentations inside the castle also help explain its history. Admission tickets are very affordable, about €5 for adults, €4 for seniors, and €3 for children.
Our Experience
This was our first stop on our day trip from Dublin. Cahir Castle is a real gem. It is not a big castle, but it is well preserved. We explored on our own and it took about an hour. We did not have time to explore the town, but it looked lovely.
Cahir Town
Castle Exterior
Castle Entrance
One of two cannonballs from the 1599 siege, still embedded in the castle wall.
Castle Courtyard
Castle Stairway and Interior
View from the castle
Blarney Castle
History
Blarney Castle and Gardens is a medieval fortress and historic landmark located in County Cork. It is famous for the Blarney Stone, its partial castle ruins, and 60 acres of surrounding gardens. Visitors may kiss the Stone of Eloquence, explore the ancient Rock Close, and walk through specialized areas like the Poison Garden. The imposing tower house dominates the site and is surrounded by extensive gardens and grounds. Blarney Castle is the third structure to have been established in this location. In the 10th century there was a wooden hunting lodge. A castle was erected around 1210 and then replaced around 1446 by Dermot MacCarthy. This is the current tower house or fortress now known as Blarney Castle.
Kissing the Blarney Stone
For more than 200 years, people have climbed the stone steps of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and, according to legend, receive the gift of eloquence. In 2014, geologists at the University of Glasgow analyzed a historic microscopic sample and concluded that the Blarney Stone is local limestone about 330 million years old. Several legends describe the stone’s supposed magical powers. One popular legend involves the Irish goddess Clíodhna. According to the story, Cormac Láidir MacCarthy was facing a difficult legal dispute and prayed to her for help. She advised him to kiss the first stone he encountered on his way to court. He supposedly did so, spoke with great eloquence, and won his case.
The tradition of kissing the stone became popular in the late 18th century. Because the block is built directly into the lower part of the castle’s highest battlements, visitors cannot simply walk up and touch it with their lips. To complete the ritual, you must climb the tower, lie flat on your back, grab a set of iron railings, and lean entirely backward and upside down over a steep vertical drop while a spotter holds onto you.
Visitors must climb to the top of the battlements by a narrow spiral staircase. The passage is very narrow and tight. Once you start up the steps there is no easy to back down so be sure you can make the climb before starting up. The climb is not recommended for those with severe claustrophobia or fear of heights. Also, those with ambulatory difficulties will find it hard to climb the steps. On busy days, the pace can be slow, but there are opportunities to stop and look around on each floor.
Exploring the Castle Grounds and Gardens
In addition to the castle and Blarney Stone, the grounds include a diverse mix of formal plantings, ancient woodland, and themed attractions. Visitors can explore the Rock Close and Water Garden, Poison Garden, Fern Garden, Blarney Lake, the Manor House, stables, café, and much more. The Manor House is highly detailed, with decorative gables and elaborate turrets. We only viewed it from the outside, but the interior includes a grand hall, large staircase, and adjoining drawing and dining rooms. It remains a private family home and is open for guided tours during the summer months.
Our Experience
Blarney Castle is a must-do attraction in my opinion. There is so much to do in Blarney. If you have time, I recommend an entire day. We only spent a couple of hours there and it was not enough time to fully enjoy the area.
After visiting Cahir Castle, we arrived at Blarney Castle around 2 pm. We took pictures of the Tower House and then got in line to kiss the stone. We all opted to kiss the stone, except Pink Bear, who waited at the bottom with our guide Brian. We had our pictures taken and purchased both hard copies and digital copies on the way out. We loved it.
After kissing the stone, we walked through the gardens and saw the outside of the Manor House. It closes at 2pm so we could not see the inside.
An FYI there is a café, but selections are limited. There are also a few places to buy souvenirs. The biggest shop is at the entrance.
Entrance Approach
At the entrance to the Tower House was a wonderful gentleman playing a bagpipe.
We took a little video since his playing was a real treat.
At the entrance to the Tower House. I took a few pictures looking up at the Blarney Stone. The area by the bars is where you kiss the stone. Pink Bear waited for us at the entrance since she was too small to reach the stone and kiss it.
We entered the keep and slowly made our way up the winding stairs. Notice the winding stairway showing from the doorway. The wait to get to the top from the entrance was about 45 minutes. Time seemed to pass quickly since there are interesting rooms on each level.
We found something interesting on each floor like the “murder hole” and the garderobe. Notice the channel for the waste exit in the last picture.
I would sometimes find Rob climbing into the strangest places! I don’t know how he managed to climb on the narrow ledge to get to the enclosure!
When we finally reached the ramparts, the view was wonderful!
We got on the line to kiss the stone. Once at the top, the line moved well.
Soon we were kissing the stone.
After kissing the stone, we walked through the gardens and saw the outside of the manor house. It closed at 2pm so we could not see the inside.
Rock of Cashel
A Little History
The Rock of Cashel, also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick’s Rock, is a historical site located dramatically above a plain at Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. Beginning around the 4th century, the Rock became an important stronghold of the Eóganachta clan and later the royal seat of the Kings of Munster. In 1101, King Muirchertach Ua Briain donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church, turning it into a major ecclesiastical center. Most surviving structures date from the 12th and 13th centuries, including the round tower.
According to local legend, the Rock of Cashel came from Devil’s Bit, a mountain about 20 miles north of Cashel. The story says that when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, a piece of the mountain broke away and landed at Cashel.
Exploring the Rock
The complex includes the Round Tower, the oldest and tallest surviving structure, along with Cormac’s Chapel, the Hall of the Vicars Choral, and the cathedral. The buildings, graveyard, and grounds are enclosed within a stone wall. Several high crosses can also be found on the site, including Scully’s Cross, which was damaged by lightning in 1976. Tickets can be purchased online or on site. Visitors can explore most of the Rock independently, although Cormac’s Chapel can only be visited on a guided tour. Most visitors should allow approximately 1 to 1½ hours.
Our Experience
Unfortunately, we arrived at the Rock of Cashel very late in the day and only had about 20 minutes before we had to leave. We could not go inside, so our visit was limited to walking around the exterior and taking in the views. Even from the outside, the Rock is an impressive sight, sitting high above the surrounding countryside. We walked around the grounds, took pictures of the ruins and the valley below, and enjoyed the dramatic setting. I was disappointed that we did not have more time here. On a future visit, I would allow at least an hour so we could explore the interior as well.
The town of Cashel approaching the Rock
Views of the Rock
Walking around the Rock
Views of the surrounding valley.
Pink Bear Retirement Vacation Rating
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⭐️ Cahir Castle – 5/5 A very well-preserved and atmospheric castle that is easy to explore. It is not especially large, and we were able to see most of it in about an hour.
⭐️ Blarney Castle – 5/5 The castle and grounds are beautiful and there is much more to see than just the Blarney Stone. The climb is narrow and steep, so visitors with mobility issues or severe claustrophobia should consider that before starting. Those with back or neck problems may also want to skip kissing the stone.
⭐️ Rock of Cashel – 5/5 This is a very imposing castle. We can only rate what we were able to see, but visually it was spectacular and we would absolutely return to explore the interior.
Final Thoughts
Blarney Castle is a must-do attraction in my opinion. I would recommend leaving an entire day just to visit the castle, grounds and nearby town. If your goal is to see all three iconic sites, this is a terrific full-day itinerary. If Blarney Castle is a major priority for you, consider giving Blarney most or all of a day instead. We absolutely loved this tour even though it was a long day. Kissing the Blarney Stone was a bucket list item for this trip. We were blessed with wonderful weather and the scenery was gorgeous.
Tips
- At least a half day is needed for major attractions such as Blarney Castle, with a full day to experience the town. Allow time to enjoy nearby cafes and pubs.
- The line to kiss the Blarney Stone can be quite long, sometimes over an hour. Allow sufficient time.
- The stairway to the ramparts is winding and very narrow. Those with claustrophobia or walking issues should consider this before embarking. Once on the stairway it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to turn around.
- There are interesting things to see on each level of the keep, so the climb does not feel like a continuous staircase.
- The grounds of Blarney Castle are extensive, so leave enough time to enjoy them.
- We were happy with our private guide, Brian from Dubh Linn, who accompanied us on this tour.