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Kiss the Blarney Stone Tour from Dublin
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From €1150 per person
This is a private, full-day trip from Dublin to one of Ireland’s most famous landmarks - Blarney Castle in County Cork - with Gerry Murphy Chauffeur Services. Your professional chauffeur acts as your guide throughout the day, so you get knowledgeable company without the rigid pace of a group tour.
The itinerary is flexible. If you want to linger longer at the castle grounds or spend more time browsing at Blarney Woolen Mills, you can. Pickup and drop-off are door to door, and you travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water.
Blarney Castle (approximately 120 minutes) - Built in 1446 by Cormac MacCarthy of Clan MacCarthy, Blarney Castle sits near Cork and is one of Ireland’s most visited historic sites. The castle was a strategic stronghold through Ireland’s medieval period, changed hands among noble families including the MacCarthys and the Butlers of Ormonde, and fell into disrepair before being restored in the 19th century. The famous Blarney Stone is set into the battlements - legend has it that kissing it grants the gift of eloquence. The grounds include beautiful gardens and a forest park worth exploring at your own pace.
Blarney Woolen Mills (approximately 60 minutes) - Founded in 1823, Blarney Woolen Mills is one of Ireland’s best-known retail destinations for quality Irish textiles. You’ll find tweeds, sweaters, scarves and gifts that reflect Ireland’s weaving tradition, all close to the castle.
This is a private tour - just your group. The visit to Blarney Castle involves climbing the castle’s battlements to reach the Blarney Stone, which is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or those who are pregnant. Strollers are welcome on this tour. Public transport options are available nearby if needed.
Arrive at the castle when it opens. Blarney Castle is one of the most visited sites in Ireland, and the queue for the Stone can be substantial by mid-morning in summer. Your private transfer gives you the flexibility to time your arrival - aim to be at the gate when it opens. The 120 minutes allocated is realistic if you’re not queuing for an hour; more time in the grounds for the Rock Close and the Lake Walk is the reward for arriving early.
The castle grounds deserve as much time as the Stone itself. Beyond the battlements, the Rock Close is a Victorian rock garden with druidic names - the Wishing Steps, the Witch’s Kitchen, the Standing Stone. It’s quieter than the castle and genuinely worth wandering. The Lake Walk is a 3km path from the castle car park to Blarney Lake, away from the tour-bus crowd entirely.
The word “blarney” has a better origin story than the marketing. Cormac MacCarthy was Lord of Blarney, and when Elizabeth I sent him a summons to submit, he sent back smooth words, flattery, excuses - everything but obedience. She reportedly complained that he sent nothing but “blarney.” The word entered English through a complaint, not a stone. Your chauffeur-guide will have the full story, but it’s worth knowing before you lean back over the battlements.
Budget 30 minutes at Blarney Woolen Mills, not 60. The Mills is vast - three storeys, thousands of items, designed for coach groups moving through in volume. If you have specific gifts to find (a wool blanket, a Belleek piece, something genuinely Irish), 30 minutes is enough. If you want to browse every floor, take the full hour. There’s no need to feel hurried on a private tour - your driver will wait.