Blarney

Blarney (Irish: an Bhlarna, meaning "the little field")[2][3] is a town and townland approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) north-west of Cork city in Ireland. It is the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone. Originally administered by Cork County Council, following the 2019 Cork boundary change, Blarney is within the administrative area of Cork City Council.[4] Blarney is part of the Cork North-Central (Dáil constituency).

For other uses, see Blarney (disambiguation).

Blarney

an Bhlarna
Town
The countryside around Blarney
Blarney
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 51°55′59″N 8°34′5″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCounty Cork
Elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
2,539
Irish Grid ReferenceW610759

Tourism

Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in Cork. Mostly people come to see the castle, kiss the stone, and to shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills.

Blarney Castle

Blarney Stone
Main articles: Blarney Stone and Blarney Castle

By kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, it is claimed that one can receive the "Gift of the Gab" (eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion). The legend has several suggested roots, involving members of the MacCarthy dynasty – builders and original owners of Blarney Castle.

Blarney Woollen Mills

Built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was originally known as Mahony's Mills. It was a water-powered mill, producing mainly tweeds and woollens.[5] After closing in the early 1970s, the mills was re-invented by local entrepreneur Christy Kelleher as a gift store servicing tourists visiting the village.

Square
Anglican Church of the Resurrection, town square

The Square in the centre of the village is a grass field where Blarney locals and townspeople sometimes congregate during the summer. Several attempts to develop the square, over the years, have always been met with stiff objection from the locals. Previously, the square was used for markets.

Transport

Blarney formerly had its own narrow gauge railway station. The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway linked Blarney (CMLR) railway station with Cork; it opened in 1887 but closed on 29 December 1934. As of 2016, a proposed new station at Blarney (originally due for service some years previously on the Dublin-Cork railway line)[6] remains in the proposal phase.[7]

The town is served by a number of Bus Éireann services, including the number 215 bus[8] every half an hour from Mahon Point via Cork city centre and the number 235 bus from Cork city at a lesser frequency.

The nearest airport is Cork Airport.

Economy and media

The Blarney economy is dependent on the largely US tourism trade, with numerous hotels and guest houses in the area to serve demand.

The Muskerry News is the local paper for Blarney and surrounding areas and is printed monthly.[9] Local radio stations that can be picked up in the Blarney area are RedFM, C103 and 96FM.

Demographics

As of the 2016 census, the town of Blarney had a population of 2,539. Of these, 90% were white Irish, less than 1% white Irish travellers, 7% other white ethnicities, less than 1% black, 1% Asian, with less than 1% other ethnicities or no stated ethnicity. In term of religion, Blarney was 85% Catholic, 5% other stated religion, 9% no religion, with less than 1% not stating a religion.[1]

Education

There is a Roman Catholic boys' primary school Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa which caters for approximately 200 pupils and is situated in the centre of the village. A girls' school, Scoil Íosagáin na gCailíní was built nearby in 1974 to accommodate the girls of the parish, whilst the boys received a new extension to their school in 1986.

Gaelscoil Mhuscrai, is the Irish language primary school in the village. It caters for approximately 120 pupils and was established in 2002.[10]

Blarney is also the home of a secondary school called Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál which was established in the 1950s[11] and has about 500 students.

Sport and leisure
Blarney Brass and Reed Band at Blarney Castle

In sport, the local soccer club, Blarney United FC, has playing facilities close to the village, with both a traditional grass pitch and an all-weather pitch.[12] The pitches are supported by changing facilities, a meeting room and a hospitality room. The senior team competes in the Premier Division of the Munster Senior League.[13] The town's GAA club, Blarney GAA, were All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Champions in 2009 and Cork-County Intermediate Hurling Champions in 2008.[14] Blarney also fields a Camogie team, which was established again in 1999. The local cycling club was re-formed in 2010.[15]

In music, the Blarney Brass and Reed Band was formed in 1981 by a group of locals who wished to form a community musical group spanning multiple age groups.[16] The band has a music education program and won events at the South of Ireland Band Championships in 2010 and 2011.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Blarney". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. From blair, blar, meaning a plain. Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Blarney" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  3. Placenames Database of Ireland – Blarney
  4. "The New Cork: city expands tonight to include 85,000 new citizens". echolive.ie. The Echo. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  5. "Our History". Blarneywoollenmillshotel.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. "End of the line for commuter rail stations". Irish Examiner. 28 October 2013.
  7. "Green light given to 'new town' of 5,000 homes and railway station". Irish Independent. 1 June 2016.
  8. "Timetable" (PDF). Bus Éireann. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012.
  9. "Muskerry News | Muskerry News". Muskerrynews.biz. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  10. "Countdown on for Gaelscoil Mhuscraí opening its doors for first time". The Cork. Blarney, Ireland. 7 December 2002.
  11. "School History". smgsblarney.ie. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  12. "Opening of the All Weather Facility in O'Shea Park - Charlie Hurley and Niall Quinn help to make Blarney United's day". BlarneyUnited.com. July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016.
  13. "Blarney United F.C". Blarneyunited.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  14. "Blarney GAA Club". Blarneygaa.ie. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. Blarney Cycling Club
  16. "History | Blarney Brass and Reed Band". Blarneybrassandreed.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  17. "Blarney Brass and Reed Band take honours in Clonakilty". Cork Independent. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
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