I'm working on an educational unit for children- 8 or 9 years old. I would like to know where the Blarney Stone came from originally. I've read that it came from Scotland. What kind of stone is it? Why was it brought to Ireland? What is the significance of the stone to make it worth a legend? I'm familiar with the "Blarney talk" story, are there any other stories worth retelling?

Well, I'd take any story of the stone with a grain or two of salt.
Have a look at http://members.spree.com/lifestyles/keltic0069/Information/BlarneyStone.htm

More about Blarney at http://www.aardvark-ipl.com/cork/blarney.html


The stone that people kiss is not the 'real' one, which is suicidal to reach. The 'real' stone could be any old stone. Maybe the thing started out as a drunken dare, and then the story grew legs.

LOL @ the story with legs. Stories do seem to have that way about them, don't they? *s*

I think your 'born with the blarney' or naught. Maybe 'blarney' is what makes the Irish Irish, not matter where they be??

No. I have no blarney skills whatsoever (except, occasionally, on paper).

I read that the stone was half of the Stone of Scone which originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers.

The stone was supposedy given to Cormac "The Strong" McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in return for his support in the Battle of Bannockburn. ... who knows?

I remember hearing from somewhere else it came from the King of Spain ...

It seems unclear ... and It smells anyway ... So I didn't bother doing the thing. Guess I'm better off anyway ... when I was a kid my folks put this copper plaque over my bed on the wall which read..

"Dear Lord, please help me to keep my big mouth shut until I know what I'm talking about"

It hasn't seemed to have helped.

Full Pint

FP