The Blarney Stone's unlikely origins - Apparently.
The Blarney Stone, a famous Irish tourist attraction, is said to grant the gift of eloquence to those who kiss it. But what's less well-known is that the stone was originally part of the walls of the 10th-century Cormac's Chapel, built by the Viking-influenced King Cormac MacCarthy. The chapel was later abandoned and the stone was moved to Blarney Castle, where it has been kissed by millions. The first recorded mention of the stone's supposed powers dates back to 1700, when it was described as "a cure for all manner of verbal afflictions."