Blarney
Encyclopedia
Blarney is a town
and townland
in County Cork
, Ireland
. It lies 8 km (5 mi) north-west of Cork
and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle
, home of the legendary Blarney Stone
.
- builders and original owners of Blarney Castle
.
Several attempts to beautify the square over the years have always been met with stiff objection from the locals. Previously the square was used for markets.
linked Blarney with Cork; it opened in 1887 but closed on 29 December 1934.
The nearest airport is Cork Airport.The Village is served by the no 224 and 234 bus from Cork city run by Bus Eireann
The Muskerry News is the local paper for Blarney and surrounding areas and is printed monthly. Local radio stations that can be picked up in the Blarney area are RedFM, C103 and 96FM.
which caters for approximately 200 pupils and is situated in the centre of the village. A girls school, Scoil Íosagáin na gCailíní was built nearby in 1974 to accommodate the girls of the parish, whilst the boys received a new extension to their school in 1986.
Gaelscoil Mhuscrai, is the irish language primary school in the village. It caters for approximately 120 students and was established in 2002. It was officially recognised by the State in 2003.
Blarney is also the home of a secondary school called Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál which was established in 1952.
, has playing facilities close to the village, with both a traditional grass pitch and a FIFA-approved all-weather pitch. The pitches are supported by changing facilities, a meeting room and a hospitality room. The club has more than 300 underage players (boys and girls aged 6 to 16), and also fields a youth team and three adult teams. The senior team competes in the Premier Division of the Munster Senior League
.
Blarney also has a GAA
club. Blarney GAA
are the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Champions of 2009 and are the Cork-County Intermediate Hurling Champions for 2008. Blarney also fields a Camogie
team, which was established again in 1999.
Blarney has also seen a resurgence in the sport of cycling with the reforming of the Blarney Cycling Club.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It lies 8 km (5 mi) north-west of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446...
, home of the legendary Blarney Stone
Blarney Stone
The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab . The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446...
.
Tourism
Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork. Mostly people come to see the castle, kiss the stone, and to shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills center.Blarney Stone
By kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, it is claimed that one can receive the "Gift of the Gab" (eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion). The legend has several suggested roots, involving members of the MacCarthy dynastyMacCarthy dynasty
The MacCarthy dynasty was one of Ireland's greatest medieval dynasties. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or MacCarthy Mór...
- builders and original owners of Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446...
.
Square
The centre of the village is dominated by The Square - a grass field where Blarney locals and townspeople sometimes congregate during the summer.Several attempts to beautify the square over the years have always been met with stiff objection from the locals. Previously the square was used for markets.
Transport
Blarney formerly had its own narrow gauge railway station. The Cork and Muskerry Light RailwayCork and Muskerry Light Railway
The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. The first part of the railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1934. A major reason for building the railway was to exploit tourist traffic to Blarney Castle.-Initial route:...
linked Blarney with Cork; it opened in 1887 but closed on 29 December 1934.
The nearest airport is Cork Airport.The Village is served by the no 224 and 234 bus from Cork city run by Bus Eireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
Economy and media
The Blarney economy is heavily-dependent on the largely US tourism trade, with numerous hotels and guest houses in the area to serve this demand.The Muskerry News is the local paper for Blarney and surrounding areas and is printed monthly. Local radio stations that can be picked up in the Blarney area are RedFM, C103 and 96FM.
Education
There is a Roman Catholic boys' primary school Scoil an Chroí Ró NaofaScoil An Chroi Ro Naofa
Scoil An Chroi Ro Naofa is a boys national school situated in Blarney village in County Cork-History:Scoil An Chroi Ro Naofa Boys' National School, St Anne's Road, Blarney, Co. Cork is a Catholic boys' primary school catering for approximately 154 pupils...
which caters for approximately 200 pupils and is situated in the centre of the village. A girls school, Scoil Íosagáin na gCailíní was built nearby in 1974 to accommodate the girls of the parish, whilst the boys received a new extension to their school in 1986.
Gaelscoil Mhuscrai, is the irish language primary school in the village. It caters for approximately 120 students and was established in 2002. It was officially recognised by the State in 2003.
Blarney is also the home of a secondary school called Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál which was established in 1952.
Sport
The local soccer club, Blarney United FCBlarney United FC
Blarney United Football Club is an Irish amateur football club. The club plays at O Shea Park, Tower. The club currently has teams in the Cork Schoolboy League and Munster Senior League, Munster Junior League s well an Over-35's team in the Beamish Floodlit League...
, has playing facilities close to the village, with both a traditional grass pitch and a FIFA-approved all-weather pitch. The pitches are supported by changing facilities, a meeting room and a hospitality room. The club has more than 300 underage players (boys and girls aged 6 to 16), and also fields a youth team and three adult teams. The senior team competes in the Premier Division of the Munster Senior League
Munster Senior League (association football)
Munster Senior League is an amateur football league in the Irish province of Munster. Teams from this league also compete in Ireland's top cup competitions including the FAI Cup, the FAI Junior Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup...
.
Blarney also has a GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club. Blarney GAA
Blarney GAA
Blarney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. The club fields Gaelic football, hurling and camogie teams in competitions organized by Cork GAA county board and the Muskerry divsional board...
are the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Champions of 2009 and are the Cork-County Intermediate Hurling Champions for 2008. Blarney also fields a Camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
team, which was established again in 1999.
Blarney has also seen a resurgence in the sport of cycling with the reforming of the Blarney Cycling Club.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Official Blarney Castle website
- Website of Blarney secondary school, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál
- Blarney Boy's National School Website
- The official website of Blarney United FC
- Blarney GAA's website
- Blarney Community Council website
- Blarney and Area Local Newspaper, The Muskerry News
- Blarney Cycling Club Homepage