Blarney Stone is a block of limestone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland. According to folklore, anyone who kisses the stone receives the gift of flattering, convincing speech. The stone was set in a tower of the castle in 1446. Stories of the stone’s powers may have begun after an old woman allegedly cast a spell to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. If he kissed the stone while under the spell, he would gain the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. Today, the word blarney means flattering or coaxing talk.
