Legend says that for military aid, Robert Bruce gave half of a symbol of Scotland’s monarchy to the King of Munster, who turned it into this

The Final Jeopardy! clue for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, came from the category Legends. The clue read: “Legend says that for military aid, Robert Bruce gave half of a symbol of Scotland’s monarchy to the King of Munster, who turned it into this.” This question tapped into deep-rooted folklore involving two Celtic nations and a legendary artifact that continues to attract tourists to this day.

What is the Blarney Stone?

The Blarney Stone is a world-renowned block of limestone embedded in the battlements of Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland. According to popular legend, anyone who kisses the stone receives the “gift of the gab”—an ability for persuasive and eloquent speech. Tourists from around the globe travel to the castle to partake in the tradition, lying backward over a high drop to kiss the stone as part of the ritual.

Although often treated as a fun tradition today, the Blarney Stone’s origins are linked to rich and sometimes conflicting legends. One of the more enduring tales connects the stone to Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and his relationship with the Irish nobility in the 14th century.

A Scottish Gift for Irish Aid

According to one version of the legend, Robert the Bruce gifted a piece of Scotland’s royal Stone of Scone—the symbolic seat of Scottish monarchs—to the King of Munster. This act was allegedly in gratitude for Irish support during the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, a decisive Scottish victory against English forces. The Irish king then incorporated the stone into what would later become Blarney Castle.

This tale seeks to explain the Scottish origin of the stone and how it may have ended up in Ireland. However, the romantic nature of the story belies some historical inconsistencies. The Battle of Bannockburn occurred in 1314, but Blarney Castle was not constructed until more than a century later, in the mid-15th century. Even so, such legends contribute to the mystical aura surrounding the stone.

Disputed Origins and Geological Evidence

In contrast to the romanticized version involving Robert the Bruce and Scottish-Irish political alliances, scientific research has cast doubt on the stone’s foreign origin. A 2014 geological analysis by researchers at the University of Glasgow determined that the Blarney Stone is made of local Carboniferous limestone, matching the surrounding geological formations in County Cork.

This finding contradicts the claim that the stone originated in Scotland or formed part of the Stone of Scone. Instead, it supports another Irish legend—that the stone was discovered locally and integrated into the castle due to its mystical reputation, possibly connected to the Celtic goddess Clíodhna and her magical advice to Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the castle’s 15th-century builder.

The Legend of Clíodhna and Eloquence

Another tale attributes the Blarney Stone’s powers to divine intervention. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, facing legal trouble, is said to have called upon the goddess Clíodhna. She instructed him to kiss the first stone he encountered on his way to court. After doing so, MacCarthy delivered an eloquent and persuasive defense, winning his case. In gratitude, he embedded the stone into the castle’s battlements, thus giving rise to the modern-day tradition.

This version roots the Blarney Stone entirely in Ireland and aligns more closely with geological findings. It also connects the stone’s legendary power with Celtic spiritualism and local mythology rather than political history between nations.

A Lasting Symbol of Charm and Legend

Whether a gift from a Scottish king or a relic of Irish mythology, the Blarney Stone has grown into a symbol far greater than its origins suggest. The act of kissing the stone has become a rite of passage for many tourists, and the word “blarney” has entered the English language to signify clever, flattering, or persuasive talk.

Despite its disputed origins, the story of the Blarney Stone continues to endure. The Final Jeopardy! clue on December 9, 2025, called upon contestants to tap into this blend of folklore, nationalism, and legend—reminding audiences once again of the power of myth to shape cultural memory.