History of The Blarney Irish Pub
Visiting over 35 pubs in Ireland in March of 2006 inspired owner Ed Beczynski to open an Irish Pub in Downtown Toledo, Ohio. Finding the right building in Downtown was the key, if opening an Irish Pub with an old feel to it was going to work. The building was found by publisher and owner of The Toledo Free Press, Tom Pounds who The Blarney and The Toledo Free Press bought and split the buillding together. With the Free Press above The Blarney it was a perfect fit.
The Blarney Irish Pub opened in November 6 2006. All the furniture and many items on the walls were bought in Ireland and shipped to Toledo to make our guest feel like there at a pub near The Blarney Castle in County Cork Ireland. While in Ireland Ed learned how important pouring a perfect pint of Guinness was and in the first 5 months has sold over 150 kegs of this roasted barley drink!
Also while in Ireland, Ed realized that what made a pub great was the music.
The Blarney Irish pub has live music Thursday thru Saturday. Celtic Irish bands play first Saturday of each month with bands from Canada, Detroit, Ann Arbor and Toledo playing and rocking The Blarney.
BlarneyCastle was originally a timber hunting lodge built in the 10th century, which was replaced by a stone castle in 1210. The present day construction was completed by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster in 1446. The Castle remained the ancestral stronghold of the McCarthy family until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell with cannon guns in 1646. Fifteen years later with the arrival of King Charles II on the English throne saw the return of the McCarthys to the Castle.
Following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, all Irish chiefs were stripped of their powers and the McCarthys were again forced to leave Blarney Castle. The Castle was sold to Sir James Jefferyes, Governor of Cork in 1703. The Castle is now owned and managed by the Trustees of the Blarney Castle Estate.
Kissing the Blarney Stone
The world famous Blarney Stone is situated high up in the battlements of the castle. Follow one of the several long, stone spiral staircases up to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the lush green Irish countryside, Blarney House and The Village of Blarney.
The stone is believed to be half of the Stone of Scone which originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers.
The stone was given to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in return for his support in the Battle of Bannockburn.
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.
You too can acquire the gift of eloquence by kissing the stone!