In all my life, I never thought I would have to hang upside-down to kiss a stone for the gift of the gab.

Since my Easter Break lasts for two weeks, I decided to do some traveling around Ireland. One of these trips included a couple of days in County Cork, where my family originates.

Cork City is a little larger than Galway, with several different local attractions including Ó Conaill chocolate shop and The Bookshelf Coffee House. Two places that are perfect for a chocoholic bibliophile like myself.

Also in the city is the University of College Cork. The school was one of three established in Ireland and named for Queen Victoria in 1845. The skull and crossbones emblem still used today for sports teams showed the school’s early emphasis on medicine.

The highlight of this trip was a quick bus ride out to Blarney Castle. I was excited to see this mainly because of the infamous Blarney Stone. Being an English major almost requires kissing this stone.

The castle has a rich history. It was the third structure to be built on the site where it stands today. Before, it was a 10th century hunting lodge and then a 1210-stone structure for similar purposes.

Cormac MacCarthy built the fortress known today as Blarney Castle in 1446.

Other clans tried to besiege the castle five times,butnd only once was it taken. The imposing stature of the fortress is a bit of a demoralizer when thinking about taking it over.

I noticed several historical notes citing the difference between “blarney” and “baloney.” The latter is a downright lie or flattery laid on so thick it’s hated. “Blarney” is the opposite of this.

The term “blarney” was introduced by Queen Elizabeth due to MacCarthy’s refusal to accept the authority of the English throne. Sir George Carew, Queen Elizabeth’s emissary, approached the MacCarthy Clan chieftain and tried to convince him to give up his ancient rights.

The chieftain responded with a long and eloquent protest of loyalty and flattered the queen, without agreement to Carew’s demand. “Blarney” was born from Elizabeth’s frustrated exclamation.

The castle features everything a high-ranking family would need, including a watch tower, a chapel, a kitchen and banquet hall, a murder hole, and an oubliette at the front door. The spiral stairs are steep and a little slippery, but worth the climb to the top of the castle where the Blarney Stone rests.

The Blarney Stone is one of the things that makes Blarney Castle so famous. For decades, literary writers and Hollywood stars have kissed the Blarney Stone in hopes of receiving the gift of eloquence, or as most people call it, the “gift of the gab.”

Famous stone-kissers include Oliver Hardy and Winston Churchill. Millions have kissed the stone in hope for the gift of eloquence, and I am rather proud to be one of them.

Here’s the thing. In order to kiss the stone, I had to lay on the ground and hang upside-down while a castle attendant held onto me so I wouldn’t slip and fall. Then I grabbed iron bars in the wall to steady myself and kissed the stone.

When I came up again, my face was literally as red as a tomato from the blood rush. Still, it was an experience very much worthwhile, even if at first it seemed harrowing.