In 1610 Sir William Usher, Knight, was made constable of the fortress, and in 1641 Luke O’Toole and a band of insurgents laid siege to the town and castle, but retreated upon the approach of Sir Charles Coote with some English troops.
Gilbert, “History of Viceroys of Ireland.” Marquis of Kildare, “Earls of Kildare.” O’Toole, “History of the Clan O’Toole.” Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.” Joyce, “Irish Names of Places.” Parliamentary Gazetteer. State Papers. Book of Howth, Carew MSS.
“There is a stone there whoever kisses, Oh, he never misses to grow eloquent, ’Tis he may clamber to a lady’s chamber Or become a member of Parliament. A clever spouter, he’ll sure turn out, or An ‘out an’ outer’ to be let alone, Don’t hope to hinder him or bewilder him, Sure he’s a pilgrim to the Blarney Stone!” FATHER PROUT.
Appropriately built on an isolated limestone rock, the castle of the Blarney (Blarna meaning “little field”) was the chief stronghold of the chiefs of the sept Carty, from Cartheigh, “an inhabitant of the rock.” It is situated some three and a half miles north-west of Cork, near the junction of the Comane (_i.e._ crooked stream) and the Awmartin River. The present ruins show three distinct periods of construction, of which the oldest is a slender tower, or peel, situated at the north-west corner of the larger block of masonry that was built to it, the whole being the great keep of the fortress.
A stone bearing the inscription “Cormac M’Carthy, Fortis Me Fieri Facit, A.D. 1446,” forms the sill of one of the machicolations on the south side of the tower, and being damaged during the siege in Cromwell’s time, has been supported with iron.
The keep is gnomon in shape, the later rectangular tower being 60 feet by 36 feet, while the peel, which is half built into the north-west corner, forms a projection of 18 feet by 12 feet. The tower is about 120 feet high. The original entrance to the peel, which was 10 feet above the ground, is now built up, and access is gained by the large newel stair in the later building. What are called “the back stairs,” were the original flight belonging to the first tower. Here is situated the “Earl’s bedroom,” with a more modern bay window, and remnants of the tapestry which once covered the walls may still be seen. In the very top storey is situated a kitchen with two great fireplaces, and one of the now floorless rooms in this tower was probably the chapel.