Five miles from the city of Cork, sits Blarney castle, which was built in 1210. Many come to kiss the Blarney Stone, a block located high in the walls of the castle. According to Irish legend, kissing the Blarney Stone gives the kisser the ability to be persuasive and the skill of flattery. To kiss the stone, a person has to lean backwards, head down, holding onto an iron railing. More than 200,000 visitors flock to the site each year to find out for themselves if the spell really works. (JULIA BAYNE—ROBERT HARDING PICTURE LIBRARY/ALAMY)