Ireland is famous for its Guinness beer, its green and wild landscapes but also for its rich folklore !
I suggest you, through 3 places to discover the myths and legends of Ireland…
Place 1 : The Lough
Everyone has heard of the Loch Ness lake in Scotland but have you ever heard of the Lough in Cork ?
The Lough (pronounced "Lok") is a four acres lake located in the center of Cork. This lake is a real heaven for all kinds of birds : swans, geese, ducks, moorhens, pigeons, seagulls, ...
In the middle of this lake, a small island covered with trees can be found. It is possible to go around the lake because this one is surrounded by a park. It is a very peaceful place and almost eclectic place right in the middle of houses. Its calm and crystalline water invites you to drink it.
As you go around, you can notice a sign retracing the legend of this place.
This is what it says : a long time ago there lived a king in a castle settled in a green valley where the most delicious springs flowed. However, this king did not want to share the water with his subjects for fear that they would exhaust it. He therefore built a wall to which only he and his daughter had access. One day, this king organized a banquet, one of his guests said to the king: “You have everything you need except water”. the king, at these words, ordered his daughter to fetch his delicious water. So she left, but when she bent down to pick the water up, she lost the jug. She ran to the palace to tell her story but forgot to close the door leading to the spring, which gushed out and flooded the green valley. It is said that the king and his guests were not drowned but that they continue to dance under water. For those who are doubtful, it is also said that when the water in the lake is low and calm, you can see the tops of the castle towers sticking out... No need for good eyesight, just a little imagination !
Place 2 : Blarney Castle
Kiss a stone and obtain the gift of eloquence? It's possible in Ireland ! To do this, go to Blarney Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Ireland.
Good to know :
To get to Blarney Castle from Cork, you will have to take the bus or the car. If you want to go by foot, be aware that you will have to walk on the road because there is no sidewalk !
Also remember to book your ticket online. In summer, most of the time, all tickets are sold out and you risk arriving at the castle and not being able to visit it !
Finally, be aware that the ticket remains quite expensive: 16 € for a student. However, the visit is worth it and you can easily spend the day there without getting bored !
The place where the castle stands is full of myths and legends starting with the Blarney Stone. Kissing this stone would give you the gift of eloquence, that is to say the art of persuading through speech but also having the ability to express yourself well. No one knows exactly where this stone comes from and this is where the legends come into play... 3 legends are associated with the Blarney Stone. The most elaborate and romantic legend concerns the Queen of the Fairies who was the beautiful daughter of a leading druid. She fell in love with a gallant young chieftain who broke her heart by not returning her love. He was killed in battle and she found his body on a stone on the banks of the river Lee (just south of Blarney). His blood had soaked into the stone. There, she grieved, her tears joining his blood in the stone which she continually kissed. This caused her magical powers to be absorbed by the stone itself. Then, the Queen of the Fairies giva away to Cormac MacCarthy that one of the stones he had used to build his castle had magical powers. All he had to do was kiss it to solve his problems. The man was encountering some difficulties did as the fairy queen advised him and it happened as she had told him. So ready to kiss the stone ?
Good to know : If you go to Blarney Castle, know that you can kiss the Blarney Stone ! But be careful, the stone is located below the wall-walk, you will have to put your head down to be able to kiss the stone !
Did you know ? The word blarney means "intelligent or flattering speech". Irish politician John O'Connor Power defined it thus: "Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery softened by humor and flavored by wit. Those who mix with the Irish in have many examples in their daily experience".
Tip :
The Blarney Stone is located on the wall-walk. To differentiate it from the others, just spot the single smooth stone. In addition, two employees are next to the stone and help visitors lean back to kiss it !
The gardens also bring their part of myths. Within it is a stone staircase carved into the rock. It is said that if you go down it and go up it while making a wish, it must come true. It seems to be easy, however if you want your wish comes true, you have to go down and up while closing your eyes.
I could also talk to you about the gardens haunted by druids, witches and fairies but I think it is better you go and discover them by yourselves !
Good to know :
If you decide to go to Blarney Castle and plan for an hour visit, you risk spending 6 or even 7 hours ! Between a 40 acres park, the castle, the buildings, you have enough to spend the day there and 1 hour is far from enough...
Place 3 : UCC
Have you ever dreamed of joining Hogwarts, Harry Potter's school of wizards?
Well, in Cork your dream will come true…Become student in UCC and your place of study will not be an ultra-modern building but a building dating from 1849. In default of taking magic courses, you will study in a grandiose setting.
Good to know :
In summer, the campus is open and anyone can access the gardens, parks, and walk between the campus buildings. It is even possible (if you pay) to visit the inside !
Queen’s College, now University College Cork formally came into existence on 30 december 1845. At the beginning, 115 students enrolled in UCC when the university first opened its gate to students in 1849. It is a campus founded by Queen Victoria and today has more than 20,000 students.
The site chosen for the university would corresponds to the supposed location of the monastery and school founded by Finbarr, the patron saint of Cork city. The university's motto is linked to Finbarr : "Where Finbarr Taught, Let Munster Learn". A statue of Saint Finbarr also stands on the roof of the main university building.
Did you know it ?
The architects Deane and Woodward constructed the university's first buildings, in Tudor Gothic style.
if its architecture already gives it a magical appearance, this is not the only characteristic of this university campus. Many stories are told within these walls. Here are a few :
The patch of grass (called Quad) :
People avoid this square grass area like the plague. Legend said that anyone who walks on this grass will fail the exams. While it's probably just a rumor that was spread to keep people from walking on the grass, you'll never see a student making their way onto the Quad until they graduate.
The UCC crest There is a long-standing myth that if someone were to walk over the UCC crest in the quad, then that person will end up getting pregnant or get someone else pregnant. Another version of this is that whoever walks on it will be cursed with low-standard lovemaking until after graduation.
You have just had a glimpse of some myths and legends but know that there are still many more to discover ! In my next post, I will tell you about a little-known side of Cork...
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