If you leave Cork and come to Blarney, you can visit the royal MacCarthy family and their modest country residence of the 15th century.

In fact, the MacCarthy family does not live in the castle today, and the building is rather destroyed, but it was the King of this dynasty who ordered to build a fort in a Blarney village. It happened in 1446.

Initially, before the royal decree, Blarney Castle was made of wood, so it is not surprising, that the first building does not exist today. Later, on its place, it was built a stoned solid fortress, but even it was destroyed. 

And these beautiful places in the surroundings of Cork attract Dermot MacCarthy's attention. The places there are truly picturesque! And we can definitely say that the half-destroyed castle suits the landscape, adding a romantic look to it.

The MacCarthy family lived in Blarney for a long time. With the royal family members, there were soldiers and count vassals. The bedroom of a monarch was situated on the 1st floor, close to it – a “room of killers”. There lived the guards, watching the guests. But the place could not get this name just because of the shadowing. Yes, there the unwanted were tortured and killed. It is known that the guard could shoot the traitors with an arrow and pour boiling water over them. It is better not to imagine, which atrocities happened inside the castle. Perhaps the souls of the killed people lived in the deserted corridors of the building.

The fortress also had a bell tower and a common room, where all the family members could meet.

The castle is surrounded by a dense forest. It is far from civilization. It seems that we were transported to the Middle Ages. In spring the ruins are covered with a red ivy. You definitely need to see it!