Stoneview Standing Stone
History
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Garrycloyne
History
In preformation times Garrycloyne gave its name to a medieval parish which corresponds to much of the modern day Blarney parish. The parish centre moved to Blarney in 1777. The ruins of the old parish church probably built in the 12th century, can be see in old cemetery in Garrycloyne (give co-ordinated). The second half of the 16th century was a time of war and devastation as the Tudors sought to bring all of Ireland under the English crown and many churches fell into disrepair and the clergy went into hiding.
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St. Ann’s Hydro
History
St. Ann’s Hydro opened in Blarney in 1843 and was expanded over time to include Turkish Baths. At it’s height, the Hydro had 80 bedrooms and included many buildings spread out over the and many residential patients who came from far and wide seeking relief from a range of ailments. Some patients who died are buried in the Church of Ireland cemetery in Blarney. The Hydro remained open until 1952. The only remains of this sprawling complex is one residence, now a B&B – Maranatha Country House. Latitude/Longitude: 51.93113, -8.59904
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Stop 24. Clogheenmilcon Fen
History

This concludes our tour but there are other things to see and do in Blarney and the surrounding area. We hope you’ll explore and have a very pleasant stay.


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Stop 23. Gothic Bridge
History

Across the road is the children’s playground erected by the County Council with the involvement of the local community.
From here the final stop on our tour is just a short walk to the site of the last wolves in Ireland.


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Stop 22. Blarney G.A.A. Club
History

A now defunct townland, Killishal, believed to contain the site of an ancient church, bordered this area. The Blarney G.A.A. Club established a permanent base at its present location in 1957 and is a thriving, hugely supported aspect of the community.
Scout Hall
The Blarney (C.B.S.I) Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland Club House is adjacent.
On your right is our next stop – the Gothic Bridge.


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Stop 21. Lodge to Blarney Castle
History

Lodges & Lodgers!
This is the gate lodge to Blarney Castle and the private entrance is in use daily.
Gate lodges or porter’s lodges began their existence in Ireland in the early 1700s as a method of security, guarding access to the homes of the landed gentry. By the late nineteenth century they had become merely symbols of wealth, power and taste when security was less of a concern. Ireland once had 10,000 gate lodges but only 60% of them survive, many of which are in ruins and unoccupied. Luckily, the gate lodge to Blarney Castle survived, is not in ruins and is occupied! If you pass by the gates in springtime you will be treated to the sight of this pretty little gate lodge standing sentry on an avenue resplendent in golden daffodils that stretch as far as the eye can see!
Continue walking for a few minutes to the grounds of one of the oldest GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) in the country.


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Stop 20. Protestant School /Prosser House
History

PROSSER HOUSE – THE BUTLER DID IT!
In 1786 Thomas Prosser opened an eatery here and was offering Sunday lunch for sixpence. He had previously been employed as a butler in Blarney Castle so he was obviously an entrepreneur!
Thomas’s son John Prosser was deported to Van Dieman’s Land (now Tasmania) for crimes committed.
In 1826 this house is shown on the map as a Protestant school, in which John Cousins taught.

Continue walking to your left to see the Gate Lodge to the Castle.


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Stop 19. Blarney Castle Hotel
History

Smith’s Hotel:
Originally known as Smith’s Hotel, the Blarney Castle Hotel has been in the Forrest family for three generations.
THE STOLEN LINEN
There were two Sinclair brothers living in the adjoining house. They had originally been brought to Blarney as weavers but subsequently raided a neighbouring linen establishment in in Six Mile Water, Whitechurch. It is said they stole a lot of linen! It’s likely to have been some form of protest, perhaps in relation to wages. Mr. Robert Gordon Esq. of New Grove didn’t take too kindly to having his linen manhandled, so he went vigilante and organised a gang and a loaded shotgun, caught the two brothers and handed them over to the police.
There is a reference to Mr. Gordon in Arthur Young’s ‘A Tour in Ireland, 1776-1779’
Come along next door to the Butler’s house.


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