The Blarney Stone is a block of limestone that was built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, near Cork in Ireland.
According to legend whoever kisses the stone will be granted the gift of the gab and become a great speaker.
This legend started way back in 1602, Cormac MacCarthy, the Lord of Blarney and the owner of Blarney Castle, was able to fend off representatives of Queen Elizabeth I, who were trying to gain ownership of his land. He was so clever that he was able to do this purely by talking them out of it.
What might have helped him was the Blarney Stone, built into his castle.
This block of stone was believed to be half of the Stone of Scone, given by Robert the Bruce to one of MacCarthy’s ancestors in recompence for his help in the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) and it was said to have magical qualities.
It was from there that the legend grew, that if you kissed the Blarney Stone you would be a fluent and pursuasive speaker.