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Best Blarney Castle Day Trip from Dublin: See 3 Castles!

Looking for the perfect Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin? Use this day trip itinerary to see three castles in one day: Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Cahir Castle!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to see as many castles as possible in Ireland. Well, lucky for you, I know exactly how to see three castles in one day on a day trip from Dublin, including one of Ireland’s most famous castles: Blarney Castle.

Head out on this Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin for stunning natural beauty, enthralling history, and castles galore! I’ll show you how to take this day trip to Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Cahir Castle from Dublin.

Blarney Castle, Blarney, Ireland

Blarney Castle Day Trip from Dublin Itinerary

I took this Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin on a guided Blarney Day Tour through Viator. It was perfect for us because we didn’t want to worry about driving in Ireland and enjoy the occasional group tour.

If you wanted, you could definitely take this day trip yourself by renting a car in Dublin and driving to all these sites. Don’t worry, I’ve provided a map below.

Departing from Dublin

Molly Malone Statue, Dublin, Ireland

We left on our day trip from Dublin bright and early in the morning. The tour met at the Molly Malone statue, and Kevin decided to help Molly out with her cart.

The day was already cold and rainy, so we were glad to get on the warm and roomy coach bus that would be taking us to Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Cahir Castle.

First Stop: the Rock of Cashel

Rock of Cashel, Cashel, Ireland

The first stop on the tour was the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary.

According to Irish mythology, the hill the buildings sit on was taken from the Devil’s Bit, a mountain 20 miles north of here. The devil is said to have taken a bite out of the mountain when St Patrick banished him, and the devil spat that piece out here at the Rock of Cashel.

The group of Medieval buildings that make up the Rock of Cashel are the 12th century round tower, the 12th century chapel, the 13th century cathedral, and the 15th century castle.

As the seat of the kings of Munster, the Rock is also said to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St Patrick in the 5th century.

It was very cold, very rainy, and very windy. This picture of Kevin appropriately sets the mood:

Rock of Cashel, Cashel, Ireland

I’ve wanted to visit the Rock of Cashel for a long time just because of how imposing and awesome it looks. The gloomy weather we had made it look even more imposing.

We only spent 30 minutes here. I would have liked more time and more information on the castle, but at the same time I didn’t really want to be out in that weather any longer either.

Second Stop: Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle, Blarney, Ireland

Next, we traveled to County Cork to climb the steps of Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone.

The weather had cleared up perfectly by this time, and we had plenty of sunshine for our climb. Such is the ways of Irish weather!

The current castle at Blarney dates back to the 15th century.

The first thing I suggest doing when you get to the Blarney Castle and Gardens, especially if you have limited time like most tour bus groups do, is to head straight for the castle and hop in line to kiss the Blarney Stone. The wait time is usually an hour or more to climb the 100 winding steps to the top of the castle

Kissing the Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone has many origin stories, but in every one of them it is said to have mythical properties. When it was installed in the top of Blarney Castle in 1446, the stone was said to give the “gift of gab.”

Now visitors flock to the castle to hang upside down (they used to be held by their ankles, but not anymore) and kiss the stone, gaining eloquence in speech and the skill of flattery. This is my second trip to kiss the Blarney Stone, so I guess I’m really gabby now (is it working?).

Blarney Castle, Blarney, Ireland

A lot of people will try to tell you what the locals are supposedly do to the stone, but I’m not going to entertain those stories. Or they’ll bring up how many hundreds of people have come along that day alone and kissed it before you. Just an FYI, they do sanitize the Stone with an eco-friendly cleanser approved by the World Health Organization.

But, really, I didn’t come all this way to half-ass Irish traditions. You never know when this magic is going to work for you or against you. So we absolutely kissed the Blarney Stone.

More things to see at Blarney Castle

So, you’ve climbed a bunch of steps and put your lips to a questionable stone; now what? There’s so much to explore at Blarney Castle and in the gardens and not enough time!

On your way down the castle, be sure to take some time to explore the rooms and the tiny passageways that go to little hidey-holes. At the north of the castle, there are dungeons and caves that you can crawl around in. And at the west, there’s the Poison Garden. Wandering the grounds, you can get to the Blarney House, and you’ll find a lot of fun towers and garden features along the way.

That’s probably not even half of what all you can see there, but we only had about 2 and a half hours to tour the castle grounds.

Stop Three: Cahir Castle

Cahir Castle, Cahir, Ireland

Back to County Tipperary, the last stop of our tour was Cahir Castle, one of Ireland’s largest and best preserved castles.

The castle‘s name comes from the Irish cathair, meaning “stone fort,” and that’s exactly what it is. Cahir Castle sits on an island in the River Suir and maintains much of its original defense structure, including its working portcullis.

During the tour, the guides take you through just how difficult it would be to storm the castle, although it was captured quite a few times.

We had about an hour at Cahir Castles, just enough time to get the tour and then explore the rooms and towers on our own before heading back to Dublin.

Seeing three castles in one day is a new record for me, and I’m pretty sure all my day trips are going to require three castles now!

How to Take a Blarney Castle Day Trip from London

If you want to take a similar Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin, you can either rent a car to drive yourself or take a guided tour.

For a guided Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin, I recommend this Blarney Day Trip from Dublin that most closely fits this itinerary (it’s the tour I took, and it doesn’t seem to have changed). Here are a few other Blarney Castle tour options:

If you want to drive yourself, I’ve provided a map below.

Blarney Castle Day Trip Map

Ready to visit three castles on a day trip from Dublin? Use the map below to plan out your castle extravaganza!

I hope you enjoy your Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin!

Top Dublin Tours

With so much to see, Dublin can be overwhelming for any first-time traveler. To take some of the stress out of planning your visit, opt for a guided tour! Check out this list of the top Dublin tours to help you make the most of your time in this beautiful Irish city.

Where to Stay in Dublin

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Dublin, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.

More Things to Do in Ireland


Ready to visit Dublin, Ireland? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Dublin using Booking.com.
  • Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
  • Save on Attractions: Save up to 55% on admission to Dublin’s top attractions with the Go City Dublin Pass.

Cheers!

Paige

A Day Trip Traveling Across Southern Ireland

Have you taken a Blarney Castle day trip from Dublin, Ireland? Tell me in the comments!

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