Sunday saw our second sunny day so far, perfectly timed for the 20 mile cycle from the marina in Cork to the little village of Blarney with its castle and famous stone.
On the way we stumbled across an adult club level Hurling match; what a game! Played with a stick like a hockey stick but with a flat head about 4" in diameter it is a cross between hockey and lacross only you can use your hands, your feet and there aren't many rules! It is seriously fast and furious, the players scoring 1 point if they get the ball between the 'rugby' posts and 3 points if they get it in the netted goal below the posts. The only protection is a helmet (not even gloves) and it is NOT for the faint hearted! Sticks clash above and below the head and bodies are bashed. At one point there were 3 men down and still play did not stop. One lad seemed to dislocate his finger which was duly put back in for him on the side of the pitch, how no hands were broken was a miracle!
Like most legends, the Blarney stone has several possible origins but I like this one best:-
An early story involves the goddess Clíodhna.[2][3] Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle,[4] being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Clíodhna for her assistance. She told MacCarthy to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the ability to deceive without offending." MacCarthy then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle.
Millions flock to kiss the Blarney stone in the hope of eternal eloquence.
The distinction between Blarney and Baloney is Important.
Balony is telling a 50 year old woman that she looks 18; Blarney is asking a woman her age because you want to know at what age a woman looks her best!
Winston Churchill kissed the Blarney stone before some of his greatest speeches, it makes you think! Like Winston Churchill before us we climbed to the top of the castle to kiss the stone, done lying on you back and leaning backwards because of its position.
The stone is built into the parapet of the castle.The hole beneath my head can be seen in the centre of the overhang. For 200 years people have been making the pilgrimage to kiss a stone in the battlements of a castle paying the descendants of Cormac McCarthy £10 a pop, now that's marketing!
Monday and Tuesday were spent sailing west at 7 knots with calm seas and the wind on the beam, fantastic sailing. We are being incredibly lucky with the winds; we should have head winds all along the south coast but in two weeks have only had one day on the nose! We are now 50 miles from turning the corner again, this time at the Fastnet rock, hang on to your hats!
No comments:
Post a Comment