Blarney and Tower have it all
A small town with a big reputation, Blarney is easily one of Ireland’s most iconic and magical places to visit.
Situated five miles north west of Cork city and surrounded by woodland, the charming fairy-tale town has garnered a global reputation for its history and folklore and stands as a timeless reminder of Ireland’s romantic past.
The star of the town is of course the famous Blarney Castle, a 15th century stronghold which stands immense on the bank of the River Martin and overlooks a thousand acres of majestic wooded estate and gardens.
Hidden high amongst the castle’s battlements is one of the world’s most celebrated and loved objects, the Blarney Stone, which attracts more than 200,000 visitors from all over the world each year.
Legend has it that anyone who climbs the many steps of the castle and kisses the stone will receive the skill of eloquence, or ‘the gift of the gab’ as locals fondly call it.
Another of Blarney’s many attractions is the world famous Blarney Woollen Mills where visitors can enjoy a spot of high-end shopping in one of Ireland’s largest craft shops.
For the outdoorsy visitor, Blarney boasts a number of woodland hikes and popular local fishing spots as well as a top quality 18 hole golf course.
Accommodation is plentiful in the town with a fine selection of hotels, B&Bs, self-catering homes and the Blarney caravan and camping park.
As well as Blarney’s tourist attractions and heritage, the town has a proud sporting tradition and is home to one of Cork’s most exciting young hurlers, Mark Coleman.
Coleman plays for the local Blarney hurling club and recently did his town proud by breaking into the senior Cork hurling team, winning a number of Munster Senior Championships in the process.
Just beyond Blarney to the west lies the village of Tower, a model village that grew due to the Cork Muskerry Light Railway which ran from Cork to Blarney between 1887 and 1934.
Located in the parish of Inniscarra, Tower is mere minutes away from the Muskerry Golf Course, now considered one of the top 18 hole parkland golf courses in Munster.
The village contains two pubs, a number of shops and services and is only a 15 minute drive from Cork City centre.
Both Blarney and Tower are serviced regularly by Bus Éireann route 215 which leaves from Parnell Place in the city centre.