Blarney_Castle

Blarney_Castle

We’ve all been there. You’re in a situation that pushes all your buttons. But you don’t want to wimp out. You don’t want to be the panicked nut job of the group. This happened to me at Ireland’s Blarney Castle. What’s so hard about kissing a rock, I thought? I was to find out.

No vacation in Ireland is complete without a trip to this famous site in Cork. Legend has it a 14th century witch was rescued by a stuttering Prince. In payment, she advised him to kiss a certain limestone. He did. His stutter disappeared. The rest is history.

Apparently, all those who kiss this stone receive the “gift of eloquence.” Tourists, statesmen, and celebrities have been lining up for centuries.

Except….

No pilgrimage is complete without some discomfort and fear. Kissing the Blarney Stone is no exception.

First, you must climb a long stairway to the top of the castle where the Stone lies. This is not just any stairway — but a twisting, narrow, medieval, spiral stone passageway, 125 steps in all.

Just thinking about it made me hyperventilate. Of all my phobias (and I have many), claustrophobia is number one. Tight, enclosed spaces make me crazy.

My two sons and I got in line, which started far outside the castle door. We were told it would take an hour to get to the Stone. My mother (who was with us on the trip) wisely decided to sit this one out.

As the line inched closer, I kept telling my sons, “I can’t go up there.” They shrugged, advising me to do what felt comfortable. I stayed in line, however. Maybe curiosity trumped fear.

Around us, some people looked nervous while others had this “bring it on” bravado.

Finally we approached the castle and entered its door. On either side were rooms, many full of rubble.

We were almost to the entrance of the stairway when the line stopped. A pale-faced woman worked her way back through the crowd, giving an embarrassed headshake. She couldn’t do it. Several people reached out, telling her it was okay.

My heart started racing. What am I doing — auditioning for the Navy seals? I just want to kiss a damn slab. What if I get halfway up and can’t hack it? What if I panic and feel like I can’t breathe?

The stairway is approached through a small, narrow door. Everyone who walked through hesitated before going on. I knew if this were a long, narrow passageway with no windows, I’d be a goner.

My son Patrick turned to me after peeking around the corner. “Its narrow at first, but opens a little.”

I took a deep breath. The only railing was a taut rope. With one son in front and one behind, I made my way up that twisty, narrow passage.

Thank God there were narrow slits for windows every ten feet. A few times, I had to take a deep breath and concentrate on the lush, green vistas beyond. Without this connection to the outside, I could never have made it.

The walls were worn and gray, splotched and moldy in parts. I thought of the generations that had climbed before. What did they look like?  How did they dress and sound?

After ten minutes, we reached the top. The line continued snaking around the perimeter of the roof until there it was… the Blarney Stone.

Now came the second test…

Pilgrims must lie on their backs, grab iron handrails and slide until lips touch stone. A white-haired attendant took me around the waist and helped guide me. All the while he whispered sweet nothings in his brogue, something about me looking like a girl who likes to kiss. (Those Irish).

Once done, another attendant helped me stand up. And that was it. Patrick, Paul and I made our way down the exit, a different, easier staircase.

As we walked along, I couldn’t help think how these people know what they’re doing. If we had to kiss some rock sitting in a castle lobby, it wouldn’t be half as exciting.

You must work to kiss the Blarney Stone. And after, you feel good. You achieved something, even if it’s small.

I thought of the woman who had backed out, past all those strangers. That also took courage, being true to oneself.

In the end, rather than being a rock, maybe the Blarney Stone is a mirror. We learn about ourselves.  We learn about our fears. Some people press on. Some decline. Still, others breeze through the whole thing.

You never know how you’ll react. But if you visit this site, you’ll find out.

And maybe that’s the true magic of Blarney Castle.

 

Have you faced a phobia? Comments are always welcome and if you like, please share. Thank you!

Comments(28)

  1. I’m with you when it comes to narrow, closed in spaces, but hooray! Your did it. Your post is also very eloquent, so a double win win for you! Brenda

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much for reading, Brenda.

  2. My daughter was just in southwest Ireland and she skipped the blarney stone. But I love your images and what you took from the experience.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much, Beth!

  3. I struggle with closed in places too. I think given the opportunity, I may make this trek as well. Thanks for the motivation. (Found you via Blog Pitch Party.)

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Kimberly, Blarney Castle has just enough windows to make it possible. Otherwise I could never have done it. I highly recommend it! Thanks for reading.

  4. Bravo to you! I’m not a fan of tight spaces either. I conquered my fear after I received my yoga instructor certification last year and actually taught a class. The more I do it the less I afraid I am.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Judy, Good for you, becoming a yoga instructor. Its funny how the more we face our fears, the easier (sometimes) it gets.

  5. I’ve never been, but its at the top of my list of places I want to go before I die! I am very claustrophobic too. I can’t stand to be enclosed anywhere. I don’t go to things like sporting events either because I get to claustrophobic from all of the people!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Rena, Thank God there were windows. If it had been one long, stone tunnel, I would’ve lot my cookies. Isn’t it funny how just a few narrow openings makes all the difference?

  6. Great story! Isn’t this what travel is all about? Not only do we see new places and meet new people, we also put ourselves to the test in new and sometimes uncomfortable situations. Brava! for you in facing your fear and discomfort to come away with a great memory and a great story.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Mimi, Thanks for reading. I agree, travel is about going outside our comfort zone. Blarney certainly did that for me, and so glad I went.

  7. Well done! My lip prints are on that stone, too!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Diane, I can’t imagine how many lip prints are on that wall! I shudder a little to think… lol.

  8. haha Thanks for the reminder! I totally forgot how I got up there 30 some years ago. Being I’m closlerphobic too, I probably blocked it out. I do, however, still have my picture of hanging down and kissing the Blarney stone. Thanks for sharing this!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Bren, Glad I’m not the only person with claustrophobia. Oh well. We did it!

  9. I’m signed up to go to Killarney in October for a travel conference and hope I can make it happen. Life is getting in the way, but I’m going to do it no matter what. I bet you had an amazing time.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Rebecca, I did have an amazing time and one of our stops was Killarney! Its a beautiful little town. Ireland was awesome. You have to go!

  10. I’ve not been to Ireland yet, but this is a bucket list item. I have a fear of heights but I don’t mind enclosed spaces, so flying in a plane doesn’t bother me.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Jennifer, You should go to Ireland, its really beautiful. I have a fear of heights and enclosed spaces, so I’m a double mess.

  11. Beautifully written, and now it is my goal to kiss that stone one day! I loved how you compared it to being a mirror. I know myself fairly well and I have a feeling of how I would react in your situation. I guess the only way I’ll find out is when I pay Ireland a visit.

    Thegoldenlining.com

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Diana, You should give it a try. The fact that windows lined the walls at intervals helped. If it had been a solid, walled tunnel, I would’ve had a rough time.

  12. I had an eerie experience at the fort in San Juan but didn’t feel anything when I visited castles in Germany. I love the experiences! Great post 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Thanks so much, Jae!

  13. Oh, the amazing memories this post brings back! The narrow staircase. The breath-snatching view-from-the-top. The crumbling infrastructure. (Okay, maybe they’re not all good…) But what a sense of accomplishment to have done it!
    (And left your DNA with mine and 5 billion other people!) I loved Ireland and recommend this to EVERYONE. Thank you for sharing, Laurie!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Diane, It definitely pushed a lot of buttons, but well worth it. Glad you did it too.

      1. Oh the memories, Laurie!
        Husby and I had taken his sister and our DIL with us for a family history tour of the UK. We did England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland in just under a month. Totally fun! And met up with our eldest son who was singing in a world-wide contest in Cork, who then finished the trip with us. The memories are just wonderful.
        Except for one, interestingly from Blarney Castle. Where we forcefully learned that not everyone makes a good traveling companion . . .
        Husby’s sister was never what one would deem ‘active’. She was totally capable. Just uninterested. She tried to bring along a wheelchair so Husby could push her through our holiday.
        Nothing doing. He insisted that she walk.
        She spent the entire trip miffed at all of us.
        At Blarney, he did manage to procure a wheelchair for her for the long walk in to the castle.
        But she was still unhappy. I can remember peering down from the battlements and seeing her, arms crossed, sitting in the middle of the courtyard in her wheelchair. She wouldn’t even get out and explore the ground floors.
        We happily scrambled about the ruins, kissing the stone and daring ourselves in the more precarious spots.
        When we finally rejoined her, her first comment was, “Thanks for taking so long and freezing me to death!”
        Yeah. Fun times. 😉

          • Laurie Stone

          • 4 years ago

          Diane, I hope that was the last time you travelled with her! If she’s not into it, that’s tough on everyone. Glad you had fun at the Blarney Castle. Fascinating place.

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