Today, my attention was caught by Frizztext’s challenge on the letter ‘B’. I recently came across a photo of me taken a good many years ago on one of our visits to family in Ireland. Of course, one of the things which I absolutely had to do, was kiss the ‘Blarney Stone’ (Cloch na Blarna).
I’d heard and read so much about this block of bluestone, which in 1446, was built into the battlements of Blarney Castle near Cork. Kissing this stone is said to endow a person with the ‘Gift of the Gab’, which is the gift of eloquent speech, or the art of flattery or deception without causing offense. In order to touch the stone with one’s lips, it’s necessary to go to the very peak of the castle, and then lean over backwards on the parapet’s edge. Luckily for me, wrought iron guard rails and safety bars had been installed, but in the olden days, participants were just grasped by the ankles and dangled over the abyss. I don’t think I’d have been quite so keen, if that had been the case. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone who is afraid of heights.
To see more entries for Frizz’s challenge, just go here.
anotherdayinparadise 
Do they disinfect it after each kiss 😕
I never thought to ask, but maybe i should have, Anyway, I’m still alive, 🙂
Did you say HEIGHTS!?
This is not for me, but you go, girl. What a fabulous experience it must have been!
Sorry to talk about heights, Gemma. Yes it was great, and another thing to tick off the Bucket List. 🙂
You’ve already ticked off more than anyone I know! 🙂
Life is good…
YOU DON’T NEED THIS! …. I NEED TO DO THAT!
😆
You already have the gift of gab (I first heard that phrase from John Cochran of Survivor Caramoan)
Hahaha…. Rommel. I’m very sure that you have this gift in buckets. 🙂
Oh, what a photo! You are quite brave and adventurous.
Thanks, Imelda. 🙂
Can’t beat a touch of the Blarney, Ad. Cork is the nearest I’ve been. Another opportunity missed! 🙂
’tis true, Jo. I’m sure your husband would say that you have enough blarney already. 🙂
Great take on B Ad, I’m amazed at all the different interpretations. It is a very interesting challenge, I’m already mulling over C in my mind…..
Thanks, Pommepal. Yes, and interesting challenge, with so many possibilities. :).
Great photo Sylvia! My grandmother (Dad’s mother) was Irish but I have never been to Ireland!!!
Thanks, Sherri. You should try to get there one day. It’s a beautiful country. 🙂
So I’ve been told, certainly plan to. Crazy isn’t it, especially with it being so close… 🙂
I will just leave that up to you Sylvia. You do it so well too! Great choice for the challenge hon. 😀 *hugs*
Thanks, Sonel. I’ll keep on talking Blarney. 🙂 Have a great weekend. xx
That’s a grand idea, something worth giving a try. Nice take on the challenge:-)
Thanks, Cocoa. 🙂
This brought back fun memories, Sylvia. I’m one of those people who is afraid of heights, but finally mustered up the courage to kiss the Blarney Stone. it took about 10-15 minutes of coaxing though. 🙂
Well done to you Tricia. Hope it was worth it. 🙂
It certainly was worth it, Sylvia. I’m hoping that with a few more experiences like this, I’ll overcome my fear of heights. 🙂
I have read about this and would love to experience it! 🙂
Well if you ever find yourself in Ireland, I’m sure you’ll be visiting Blarney Castle. 🙂
I too climbed Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone not knowing that I was going to have to dangle over the edge of the parapet to do so. But I did not let my fear of heights prevent me from going ahead and giving the old stone a bit of an upside down smooch 🙂
Well done, Optie. Glad you didn’t optie out at the last minute. 🙂
I imagine there is always along queue Sylvia 😉 who wouldn’t want the ‘gift of the gab’
Glad you had something to hang on to Lol
Yes, it’s very popular indeed. I’m also glad I wasn’t just dangled by my ankles. 🙂
I have to admit that I am afraid of height. I think I would not be able to get the gift 🙂
Oh dear, that’s not good at all. 🙂
I must have been born kissing it. I haven’t been back since. 🙂 Glad you were able to hang on tight and romance the stone. 🙂
Hahaha. Marsha, I’m sure you could out-talk anyone. 🙂
blah blah blah. xox
😆 I wonder if ‘Blah blah blah’ has any connection to Blarney? (Blah Blah Blahney) 🙂
hahaha I’m sure!
😉
Ha, I promised myself I wouldn’t make any “gift of gab” jokes, but it hasn’t been easy!
Hahaha. Talking of ‘gift of the gab’ jokes. “Paddy was tooling along the road one fine day when the local policeman, a friend of his, pulled him over.
“What’s wrong, Seamus?” Paddy asked.
“Well didn’t ya know, Paddy, that your wife fell out of the car about five miles back?” said Seamus.
“Ah, praise the Almighty!” Paddy replied with relief. I thought I’d gone deaf!” 🙂
Oh, haha! Paddy might have enjoyed a moment of silence but will miss that buzzing noise when he’s hungry for breakfast! I do LOVE Ireland, and I think you were a great sport for kissing the stone. 🙂
Happy Memories to you!
The things one will do to get the gift of gab. You ROCK! 🙂 Who is holding onto you?
Thanks for the smiles, Lynne. I have absolutely no idea what his name was, but it was most probably Paddy, Sean or Conor. 😀
molto divertente, anche se non credo a queste superstizioni sono certa lo avrei fatto anche io, per pura sfida
🙂
very funny, although I do not believe these superstitions I am sure I would have done myself, out of sheer challenge
Yes, I’m sure you would also do this, Ventis. I’m not one to pass up on a challenge. 🙂
S-i-L did that. It was a big mistake to let her. She hasn’t stopped talking, since! 🙂
You don’t surprise me. I did meet her once, didn’t I. 🙂
Looks like I’ll never have the ‘Gift of the Gab’. Seems I grow more afraid of heights as the years pass.
Never mind, Gunta. Your photos speak oceans. 🙂
Awww… 😀
xoxox
Tis the truth. 🙂 xx
We took our daughters there. Everyone else had a go and I just took photos. It’s an interesting place.
It is an interesting place to visit. I was glad we did, but I was the only one in my family who kissed the stone. 😉
Did you visit the Poison Garden at Blarney Castle?
No, I think that must have been done after we were there. It was quite a long time ago.
I went up to the top, but didn’t kiss the stone – it looked well dodgy to me 🙂 so are you gabbier than you were?
I don’t think it made much difference,but when you say that it looked dodgy, you now have me thinking of all the germs I could have picked up, kissing where many had kissed before me. 😯
Ugh! I hadn’t thought about that aspect!
Wheew you survived, and now have the gift of the gab…
Hahaha It’s a miracle! 🙂
How fun ! I hope to do this one day just for the experience !
Yes, it was a fun thing to do, Kathryn. 🙂
Yes I am working on being more flexible ; )) hehe
A fun choice for B.:)
Thanks, Lisa. Glad you liked it. 🙂
So that is not for me! I have a terrible fear of heights and I don’t need the gift of the gab. I believe in the Afrikaans saying: “‘n toe bek is ‘n heel bek!” Roughly translated: “A closed mouth is a whole mouth”.
Good saying, kragenhai. 😀
Oh well, that counts me out. No head for heights! 😉
You don’t need the gift of the gab, adee. You have the gift of poetry. 🙂
That’s quite an adventure. Tell me if that worked, I need to improve mine 🙂
Actually, I think it did work a bit, as I’m more outspoken than I ever used to be. Maybe it took away my shyness. 🙂
Dude! What a picture. It tripped me out because I had no idea what you were doing I had to stop and check you out! That’s what a great picture is supposed to do … stop and make an impact. Nice job. 🙂 You must have had a blast on that trip.
Thanks so much, TG. Yes, it was a great trip. Ireland is a lovely country to tour around. 🙂
I hear the bicycle tour is a awesome. But I’ve never been. Sort of interests me to do that there and Italy 🙂
Ha! That’s excellent Sylvia! I think I would be right up there with you. Heck you only live once. 🙂
I agree with you, Phil, but actually, I don’t think you need the gift of the Blarney. I imagine you already possess it. 😀