Blarney is a village in the south of Ireland located 8 km northwest of Cork in the Republic of Ireland. It is the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.
By kissing the Blarney Stone, it is claimed that one can receive the "Gift of the Gab" (eloquence, or skill at flattery or persuasion). The legend has its roots in the response of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth I to Cormac Teige McCarthy's attempt to sweet talk his way out of a sticky situation, during negotiations of the takeover of the Blarney Castle by the occupying English forces. Cormac himself was the King of Munster, living in the Blarney Castle around the 14th century. The stone itself is rumoured to have been created by a witch way back in the middle ages.                                        Queen Elizabeth I wanted Irish chiefs to agree to occupy their own lands under title from her. Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, handled every Royal request with subtle diplomacy, promising loyalty to the Queen without "giving in". Elizabeth proclaimed that McCarthy was giving her "a lot of Blarney", thus giving rise to the legend.
Blarney village is a major tourist attraction in County Cork. Mostly people come to see the castle, kiss the stone, and go shopping in Christy's - also known as the Blarney Woollen Mills.
The middle of the village is dominated by The Square - a grass field where Blarney locals and the townpeople from Cork city journey to during the summer. Activities include soccer, sunbathing and other recreational activities. Roy Keane, the legendary Irish International soccer player and renowned Manchester United captain, made a cameo appearance at The Square league. His team lost that day.
Various attempts to beautify the square over the years have always been met with stiff objection from the locals. Previous uses include a market square, and the area is now a few hundred years old.