Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold located in Blarney near Cork Ireland. The stone keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty and dates from 1446. The famous Blarney stone is also found among the battlements. The castle was besieged during the Irish Conferate Wars and seized in 1646 by Parliamentarian forces. However it was returned to Donough MacCarty who became 1st Earl of Clancarty. The castle was also captured and confiscated by the Williamites in the 1690s who supported King William as the successor to James II. Afterwards the castle was sold and changed hands several times before being bought by the governor of Cork in the 18th century. Today the castle is open to visitors and is surrounded by extensive gardens with rock formations including the Wishing Steps, Druids Circle and Witchs Cave. There is also a poison garden with poisonous plants including wolfsbane, mandrake, ricin, opium and cannabis.

The MacCarthy family was one of the most powerful of the clans in Munster. The origin of the clan begins with Carthatch, an Eoganacht Chaisil king who died mysteriously in 1045 burned alive in his bed - potentially a victim of his rivals the OBrien clan. Another famous MacCarthy, Cormac MacCarthy, a King and Bishop is famous for building one of Irelands most famous structures - Cormac's Chapel - at the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel had been the seat of the High Kings of Munster for centuries - archaeological evidence shows the Rock had been used as the center for High Chieftains of Ireland as far back as the 4th century. The Rock is actually a gigantic lump of limestone which rises out of the lush plains of the Tipperary (the Vale). Legend has it that St. Patrick himself banished Satan from a cave in a mountain near Cashel which formed the Rock - St. Patrick is shown here appointing a High King paternal ancestor of the MacCarthy clan.

Although the MacCarthy clan had owned various castles, Blarney Castle was their historical seat. And there are many legens around the famed Blarney stone of the castle. One legend claims the Blarney stone was given as a gift to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from king Robert the Bruce of Scotland who presented the magical stone for his assistance in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Another says the goddess Cliodhna blessed the stone saving the castle builder Cormac Laidir MacCarthy from a lawsuit in the 15th century. In any case kissing the Blarney stone is said to give one powers to deceive others without offending them - or the ability to exhibit great eloquence at flattery. The ritual has been performed by millions of people going back centuries including many world statesmen such as Winston Churchill.

The MacCarthy clan coat of arms is shown here. DNA evidence has identified the Y-DNA haplogroup (all male line) of the MacCarthy dynasty. Cross referencing this to our ancient sample database has found some exact matches which are hilighted in this Spotlight. Note these samples therefore relate by an all male line back to one of the MacCarthy ancestors! As a result, any relations you discover to the samples hilighted here can imply your own relation to the MacCarthy clan - and of course to Blarney Castle - or even the Irish High Kings - Happy Saint Patricks Day!