Blarney Castle in Ireland -> Most people associate Blarney Castle in County Cork in Ireland with the Blarney stone, which when kissed gives people “the gift of gab.” But this castle is also believed to have a real curse. The Legend Comac MacCarthy, one of Ireland’s great chieftains built Blarney Castle around 1446. Despite the fact Comac fought with the English-- against the local FitzGeralds, Queen Elizabeth l sent an envoy, the Earl of Leicester to claim his lands and rights. Legend states Comac lacking the ability to speak with finesse, feared he was not capable of convincing the queen to change her mind. He then met an old woman--said to be actually the goddess Clíodhna-- that told him anyone who kissed the Blarney stone located on the parapet at his castle would be given the gift of eloquent speech. * Comac did exactly this and then was able to wine and dine, flatter and deceive Leicester who delayed the queen’s decision. This worked for Comac was allowed to keep his family’s traditional land. The queen afterwards stated with irritation that all of the earl’s reports about his progress were “blarney.” * Part of this gift of gab is wit and the art of persuasion.