We're taking a cruise around the UK in September and one of the ports is Cobh. I tried booking a tour to get to the Blarney Castle, but the tour is full for the day we'll be there. Would anyone know if it's possible to get to Blarney Castle without having a tour booked? Thanks

I don‘t know about the transportation there, but you don‘t need to be with a tour to visit the castle

Check out https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Cobh/Blarney-Castle for options on
how to get to Blarney Castle. You can also take a train to Cork and then a taxi to Blarney.
You definitely do not need a tour guide of the castle. Enjoy.

We didn't take any tours in Ireland, just went to the sites to see them.

Blarney Castle is on a published list of THE TOP TEN THINGS OF NOT TO DO in Ireland that I recently saw online.
IWhile the castle itself is interesting, the whole experience of visiting Blarney Castle is AWFUL!
Hundreds of tour buses. A total tourist trap. Crowds of people. https://www.tripsavvy.com/ireland-overrated-1542820

I would highly recommend to avoid it.
The line to kiss the Blarney Stone was over an hour wait on the day we visited.
I have been to Ireland 5 times and avoided this place.
The only reason we went last May was because my niece insisted. I think she regretted it.

So many better places to visit in Ireland.

If you do a google search Cobh to Blarney, you will get some options that may work for you. I saw one from the port.

I really enjoyed my visit to Blarney Castle. I got some beautiful pictures and it wasn't crowded. I went over Easter week. Clearly tourist sites are not for everyone but I would not discourage anyone from wanting to see them.

I know three people who visited the Blarney Stone. All three of them got herpes. Maybe the castle is worth a look-see.