Blarney Castle - Tourist Trap or worth the trip?
 

Planning an itinerary with 4 adults.

My niece very much wants to see Blarney Castle and to kiss the stone, but does not look like it will fit in well with the planned itinerary.

We plan to drive Shannon Airport to Killarney the first day, visiting Killarney National Park, Muckross House, Torc Waterfall with over night in Kenmare.

The only way to work in Blarney Castle is to do it first day - Shannon to Cork then to Kenmare, leaving out the Killarney sites.

Feedback appreciated.

THanks.

While we really liked Blarney castle and the gardens, we went when it opened and avoided the bus loads of tourists. If I had to choose between the two it would be Killarney. Simply beautiful and I loved Muckross house. More to see and do at the National Park. Enjoy your trip.

The whole 'kissing the stone' thing is the very epitome of tourist trap. I'm sure most people who do it have no idea why, but it's something people seem to associate with Ireland for some reason.

I liked the castle, but there was no way I was going to kiss the stone. I threw it a kiss as I walked by.

Kissing the stone is more realistically associated with herpes than anything historic or Irish.

Blarney is a nice town, the castle is worth a visit and the grounds are very nice. It is her trip so would do something on her wish list. I climbed it once, did not kiss the stone and enjoyed the woolen mill, a pub in town and walking the area. We stayed there two nights many years ago before you had internet bookings. We met a couple in the pub who took us to some of the best places in the area the next day. I mentioned to them I wanted to see where Michael Collin's was assassinated and we got the full tour including his birthplace. It is not a bad place to stay to explore the area. I still think of that day with Emer and Pat. Great locals.

We are frequent travelers to Ireland and recently lead a tour for 11 people - 2 of which indicated they HAD to kiss the stone. We had 17 nights for our trip so we were able to fit it in. My husband had never down it in multiple trips, so he did it also. We were there on a gorgeous sunny day. The grounds and the garden surrounding the Castle are beautiful.

However, the area of Killarney has much to offer. On our latest trip we based in Kenmare for 4 nights to see this area. The is no way I would pick Blarney Castle over Killarney.

Perhaps you could work in a tour of Ross Castle, right in Killarney.