Blackrock Castle

A castle next to a river is a dream come true for every girl. Since my childhood, I'm always attracted by nature, historic places and fairy tales which include a prince, a princess, and a castle. I fantasize about them even now. And a place with water is always on top of my list of places to visit.

The view of the Blackrock Castle was a treat to my eyes. The mesmerizing beauty of this Castle, the river and the ferries nearby made my heart dance like a small kid. Even with the chilled wind blowing, all I wanted was to explore the castle.

Blackrock Castle has an amazing history and now it’s been converted into an observatory by Cork Institute of Technology(CIT). According to history, In the late 16th century, the citizens of Cork appealed to Queen Elizabeth I to construct a fort at Blackrock to "repel pirates and other invaders”. It is said that goods were shipped from "Little Island" to "Merchant Quay". This stretch was unprotected and merchants use to face huge loss due to pirates. Unfortunately, approval was denied hence, people of Blackrock Village came together to build this beautiful castle.

Compared to any other famous castles in Ireland, this is pretty small. The reason is, this place was used for storing cannons and military equipment. I couldn’t believe when I heard that this castle was burnt twice due to fire accidents but is still standing strong. Though it was renovated twice, nobody can make out unless it's briefed. Later all the explosives were moved out and the castle was used for "convivial gatherings"(Lavishes parties). Now it's turned into a planetarium and observatory. Along with this, everyone can have a guided tour inside the castle, enjoy the European Architecture and a glimpse of gunnery storage area.

The best part is reaching the top of the castle through a narrow staircase called "tripping steps" which was built to trick enemies to slip and fall off the steps. The view was stunning from the top of the castle. However, the massive cold winds can actually blow a person away. Shivering, despite being covered from tip to toe, I still managed to click some pictures and selfies with friends to cherish these memories. I missed visiting “Atlantic pond" which was within a km from Blackrock Castle as we ran out of time and evening was getting colder.

To reach Blackrock Castle, bus number 202 runs from the city center, Cork. The guided tour has an entry fee. Student/Senior/Children(5-14 years) would be charged €5.00 each. Adult tickets are €7.00 per person. A family which includes 2 adults and 2 children are charged €20.00 per family. A group with 25 people are charged €5.50 per person. Opening hours are from 10 am to 5 pm. However, the guided tour ends at 4 pm. Also, there is an exquisite restaurant right in front of the Castle.