DAY 4: Blarney Castle and Kinsale

I spent some time going back and forth if a visit to Blarney Castle would be worth it. By now dear reader, you probably have noticed that I don't love crowds and I tend to chose the path less traveled (and in the shoulder season). It's always a fine line when it comes to some of the more popular tourists attractions. popular places are usually popular for a reason but sometimes, they are just tourist traps famous for a silly gimmick or a few instagram worth photos. I did some research and decided that the consensus was this: the Blarney Stone (a very small part of the castle) is very skippable, the castle itself is beautiful, but its the garden and grounds that really make a trip to the Barney Castle worth it. I decided it was the perfect place to lets the kids explore, experience an Irish castle, and my mother in law was looking forward to kissing the Blarney Stone.

We spent a few hours at the Blarney Castle and grounds and I whole heartedly agree with the reviews I read. The castle is lovely and worth visiting but the grounds and castle collectively make the fee and drive over worth it. The grounds are stunning and kid-friendly with a little playground, awesome walking trails, various gardens, a cafe and courtyard, caves to explore, and more. Because we visited during the week in the shoulder season, we were able to get through the castle rather quickly and my in-laws were able to kiss the Blarney stone with just a five minute wait. The day felt like it was out of a fairy tale, spending the morning with my kids wandering the iconic grounds. If you are wondering if it's worth visiting with kids my answer is yes. Head out early, avoid the weekends, try to travel in the shoulder season, and enjoy. 

About the Blarney Castle

• Blarney was built nearly 600 years ago by the great chieftain Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry in County Cork
• Blarney is a tower house, a type of fortification built by Gaelic lords 
• The Blarney castle walls are 18 feet thick in places
• Kissing the Blarney Stone gives one the gift of eloquence or “the gift of the gab”
• The grounds consist of 60 acres of paths that lead through various gardens, arboretums, and avenues
• The castle has some interesting features like the murder hole - a hole in the ground used to hurl stones or boiling water at intruders
• There are various themed gardens like the poison garden, prehistoric Fern Garden, and the carnivorous plant garden

Times and Pricing

The castle and grounds are open year round. Opening times vary on the season but generally follow a 9 to 5 schedule (6 in the summer season) For current opening times (varying by seasons) - head to their website

As of 2025, pricing was as follows

Adult Admission €23

Student/Seniors (65+) €18

Five and under: Free

Children (6-16 years - Must be accompanied by an Adult) €11

Family (2 adults + 2 children) €60

Kinsale

After the Blarney Castle, we headed over to the little village of Kinsale to see another quaint Irish town but this time on the water. It is known for being a colorful seaside village and we stopped here for a fried fish lunch, shopping, and yet another Irish playground. It is known as being a foodie town on the water and its colorful storefronts are a fun way to spend some time after lunch. It was about a 40 minute drive south from the Blarney Castle and made sense to combine the two for a day trip. 

We spent a few hours in town but it was one of those side trips that would have been better without kids. I kept reading how Kinsale was a beautiful village town that was worth a day or even better a weekend but it did not translate with two young kids after spending the day at Blarney Castle. 

Visiting with kids? Skip Kinsale and find a playground on your way back from Blarney Castle. Without kids? Spend the weekend in Kinsale enjoying the charm of the town, the fantastic food, and the shops.