Tourists skip overcrowded Blarney Stone to visit underrated Irish castle instead

Tourists in Ireland have discovered an interesting castle that they have opted to visit instead of Blarney Castle . Located in Co Cork , Blarney Castle is home to the famous Blarney Stone.

Every year, thousands of tourists line up to kiss the Blarney Stone . It is believed that kissing the stone gives a person the 'gift of the gab' .

In other words, it is thought that the act of kissing the stone will make you a smooth talker. When visiting the castle with this apparent mystical stone, you will likely find queues of tourists.

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However, some tourists aren't satisfied with their visit to Blarney Castle and the stone, complaining about the overcrowding. Reviewers on Tripadvisor have had mixed reviews about the popular attraction.

" It's a tourist trap. Not terrible but a bit disappointing," said one person. However, other reviews are more positive and some visitors enjoy kissing the stone.

For those who don't enjoy the crowds and the queues, they have opted for a castle that is under 90 minutes away by car.

Bunratty Castle is located in Co Clare and offers an attractive visitor experience for tourists in the west of Ireland. When one tourist from Atlanta, Georgia asked if they should visit Blarney Castle or Bunratty Castle, a number of people said that they should choose the latter.

"I'm my opinion I would choose Bunratty. Blarney Castle grounds are beautiful but Bunratty has much more," one person wrote.

"I love the castle since it is done up as it would have been back in the day so you get an idea of what life was like back then. And you have the folk park and the village recreated and the animals."

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Another said: "Of your two choices, Bunratty is the clear winner. The castle at Blarney is an empty shell — although the views from the top ARE impressive."

A third wrote: "I do love the grounds at Blarney (the ruined tower is nothing special), but I'd give the edge to Bunratty as I find it more interesting. If you do go to Blarney, go very early or very late in the day to enjoy the grounds at their best, with fewer people. (At Bunratty, it really doesn't matter as much if the Folk Park is bustling with people.)"

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