| The Blarney Stone is a famous stone that is part of | | | | tales" and "whoppers." Blarney is also flattery and the |
| the Blarney Castle. It is an ivy-covered castle live | | | | art of coaxing. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, wellknown |
| hundred years old in the south of Eire (Ireland). To see | | | | Catholic priest, tells us the difference between boloney |
| the stone, you climb a narrow stone staircase whose | | | | and blarney. He says, "Baloney is flattery laid on with a |
| sloping steps are shaped like wedges. The steps-118 | | | | trowel; blarney is flattery laid on with the lips; that is |
| altogether- wind around in a tight spiral and you finally | | | | why you have to kiss a stone to get it." |
| come out upon an open platform on top of the castle. | | | | But the Blarney Stone is more than just a popular |
| You are probably not alone, because a steady stream | | | | tourist sight. Irish legends describe it as a piece of the |
| of people from all over the world visits this castle. | | | | famous Lia Fail, the "Stone of Destiny," over which the |
| When your turn comes, two men hold onto your legs | | | | ancient kings of Erin were crowned. The biggest part |
| as you lie on your back, and push yourself out through | | | | of this historic stone is now called the Coronation |
| a hole in the low wall around the edge of the platform. | | | | Stone, and English kings and queens have been |
| Then you take hold of two rusty upright bars, raise | | | | crowned over it for many hundreds of years. Some |
| your head and shoulders about two feet, and- kiss the | | | | people suppose that the "Stone of Destiny" is famous |
| Blarney Stone' Why? In the hope that this will give you | | | | in the Bible as the "pillow" the prophet Jacob was |
| the gift of Blarney! The word blarney means many | | | | resting on when he dreamed of angels climbing to |
| things to many people. To some, it is simply "the gift of | | | | Heaven on a ladder. Whatever its history, the piece of |
| gab"-a quick tongue, always ready to spout a river of | | | | the Lia Fail that is set in the outer wall of Blarney |
| words. Others think of blarney as a form of lying, either | | | | Castle is dearly loved and honored by the Irish people. |
| gentle and pleasant, or big and impressive, like "tall | | | | |