Blarney
| Blarney Irish: An Bhlarna | |
| County Cork | |
|---|---|
 The countryside around Blarney | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | W610759 |
| Location: | 51°55’58"N, 8°34’5"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,539 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cork City |
| Dáil constituency: |
Cork North-Central |
Blarney is a town and townland of County Cork, found about five miles north-west of Cork city centre.
This town is the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.
The name of the town is from the Irish an Bhlarna, meaning 'the little field'; From blair or blar, meaning a plain.[1]
Tourism
- Main article: Blarney Castle
Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in Cork. Mostly people come to see the castle, kiss the stone, and to shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills.
Legend says that by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, one can receive the "Gift of the Gab", specifically eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion. The legend has several suggested roots, involving members of the MacCarthy dynasty – builders and original owners of Blarney Castle.
Built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was originally known as Mahony's Mills. It was a water-powered mill, producing mainly tweeds and woollens.[2] After closing in the early 1970s, the mills was re-invented by local entrepreneur Christy Kelleher as a gift store servicing tourists visiting the village.
The Square
The Square in the centre of the village is a grass field where Blarney locals and townspeople sometimes congregate during the summer. Several attempts to develop the square, over the years, have always been met with stiff objection from the locals. Previously, the square was used for markets.
The Blarney economy is dependent on the largely American tourism trade, with numerous hotels and guest houses in the area to serve demand.
Media
- The Muskerry News is the local paper for Blarney and surrounding areas, printed monthly.[3]
- Local radio stations that can be picked up in the Blarney area are RedFM, C103 and 96FM.
Sport and leisure
- Football: Blarney United FC[4]
- Gaelic Athletics: Blarney GAA
- Cycling: Blarbey Cycling Club, re-formed in 2010[5]
The Blarney Brass and Reed Band was formed in 1981 by a group of locals who wished to form a community musical group spanning multiple age groups.[6] The band has a music education program and won events at the South of Ireland Band Championships in 2010 and 2011.[7]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Blarney) |
References
- ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland – Blarney
- ↑ "Our History". Blarneywoollenmillshotel.com. http://www.blarneywoollenmillshotel.com/about-blarney-hotel.
- ↑ "Muskerry News | Muskerry News". Muskerrynews.biz. 2016-04-08. http://muskerrynews.biz/wp/.
- ↑ [http://www.blarneyunited.com BlarneyUnited.com
- ↑ Blarney Cycling Club
- ↑ "History | Blarney Brass and Reed Band". Blarneybrassandreed.com. http://www.blarneybrassandreed.com/history.
- ↑ "Blarney Brass and Reed Band take honours in Clonakilty". Cork Independent. 2011-07-07. http://corkindependent.com/20110707/news/blarney-brass-and-reed-band-take-honours-in-clonakilty-S3045.html.