Blarney

#200 Blarney Castle
Co. Cork, Ireland
1480s and early 16th C (and later)
This is NOT an official Lego site

In 1461 Cormac 'Láidir' mac Taidhg became the 6th MacCarthy Lord of Muskerry, and he soon saw that the site at the convergence of the Martin and Blarney Rivers was of strategic importance, and began construction on Blarney Castle. His small three-story stone tower, with a narrow, mural, spiral staircase, can still be recognized at the northwest corner on the current castle. It replaced a wooden hunting lodge, present on the site for several centuries in some form or other. In 1501 Cormac Óg Láidir mac Cormac became 9th Lord of Muskerry, and it was he who greatly expanded the structure into the massive tower that is so famous today.

Despite ongoing turmoils in Ireland, the rest of the British Isles, Europe and elsewhere, the MacCarthy lords continuede to reside in Blarney Castle. Around 1600 a new bawn was added on the west side of the castle, and the vault ceiling in the third floor Banqueting Hall was removed. In 1640 a classical fireplace was placed in the Great Hall on the first floor and a decorative oriel window added to the "Earl's Bedroom" in the old tower portion of the same floor. Then in 1646 Blarney was taken over by Parliamentary forces. Donnchadh mac Cormaic Óig, Lord Muskerry, was one of the last Catholic leaders to surrender to Parliamentary forces. Blarney Castle was confiscated and granted to Lord Broghill, an advisor to Oliver Cromwell , and Lord Muskerry was banished to the continent.

In the 1680s the Reverend Rowland Davies, Dean of Cork, was tenant in Blarney Castle. In 1702 the castle was sold to Lord Chief Justice Richard Pyne, who quickly sold the castle to Sir James Jefferyes, Governor of Cork. Blarney remained in the Jefferyes family until 1846, when it passed to the Colthurst family by marriage, where it remains until present. The castle and grounds are now managed by the Trustees of Blarney Castle and Estate. It continues to be a very popular tourist destination, particularly due to the famed Stone of Eloquence (aka The Blarney Stone) nestled into the parapet wall on the castle's south side.


Cutaway Drawing.	The parapet walk, necessary to reach the Blarney Stone.	The kissing site looking up and north from below the castle.	A closer view of the Blarney Stone site.	Wife Judy kissing the Stone in 2003. She said I was eloquent enough already, though those might not be her exact words.


Ground Plan of tower with remnant of bawn and newer enclosing wall.	First Floor Plan with bawn remnant and key.	Second Floor Plan.	Third Floor Plan.	Fourth Floor Plan.	Parapet Plan with Blarney stone noted.

Photos of the Lego Model Under construction November, 2025 This model would not have been such a joyful project without the assistance of Paul O'Sullivan at the Blarney Estate, and the gorgeous and inclusive book, "Blarney Castle: An Irish Tower House" by James Lyttleton, to whom I must acknowledge all the plan and elevations above, plus some text. Thank you to you both!

The castle is laid out on November 21 using 11 Lego baseplates, the border all green.	Next the castle and bawn are roughly outlined.	On the same day, the area immediately around the castle is landscaped. Foliage come later.	Here is the view from the west.


On November 22 the castle outline is refined, with doorways, road and flagstones inserted.	And actual construction of the bawn and castle begins.	Here is the south view on day 3, with the gatehouse entrance.	And from the north with the tall slit window the basement's only natural light.


On November 24, the bawn wall is complete. Its shape and height are somewhat conjectural.	The basement level is in place...	...and the second story gate- house has a roof.	Construction of the Renaissance bay window is well underway.	And the view from the west.


By the next day, the tower has risen to the 1st floor level.	The gatehouse has a roof, with access to its wall walk.	The bay winder is complete...	...and the original tower is coming into its own.


After the Thanksgiving holiday the 2nd story is pretty complete.	And the floor of the 3rd story is defined.	It takes considerable substructure to support...	...the floor of the Banqueting Hall and the Priest's Room.	By December 5 the 3rd story floor is almost complete.


Over the next four days the bulk of the 3rd story is built.	The model will be displayed as a tower, or in two parts.	Apart the Banqueting Hall, Priest's Room and Garderobe will be open and occupied...	...as seen best from the north.	The upper third of the castle will be built very soon.	And here is a better view of the open 3rd story.


On December 9 construction of the upper part of Blarney is underway.	I've placed the top...	...section on the bottom...	...to assure I've made no...	...technical errors. And up we go!


With the main castle ready for corbels, I decided to show how my Irish corbels were constructed.	And they are soon ringing 2/3 of the large tower.	Note here the door which hides the battery for the Hall and Priest's Room lighting, for when the top is in place.	Quickly the tower rises to wall walk level, with the battlement base also in place.	And a close-up of the just- completed Irish merlons atop the small 1480s tower.


On December 16 the tower is re-assembled...	...and Blarney is ready battlements and...	...chimneys! The next set of pictures will be...	...the completed castle. SEE BELOW!

Photos of the Lego Model Build in November-December, 2025, for Brickworld Chicago 2026 .

On December 20 the model is completed, and assembled.	Here is the final south view.	And from the southeast.	And the east.	And the northeast.


And the north.	And the northwest.	And the west.	And finally the southwest.	A comparison of Aldie Castle (Scotland) and Blarney, both modeled in "minifigure scale".


The top down view of the completed tower.	A close-up of the steps up from old to new sections.	KISSING THE BLARNEY STONE	The Banqueting Hall	The Priest's Room	And the garderobe. Oops! Sorry to intrude!!


South Elevation.	East Elevation.	North Elevation.	West Elevation.


South Elevation.	East Elevation.	North Elevation.	West Elevation.


Cross-section looking south.	Cross-section looking east.	Cross-section looking north.


Top Down Plan.	Top Down Plan with Bawn.	Third Floor Lego Plan (where split is anticipated).