Kissing the Shamrock Blarney Stone: A Quirky Route 66 Stop in Texas
On a road trip across the country, my wife and I were cruising down Route 66 through the Texas panhandle. We were getting close to the Oklahoma border when I asked, “Hey honey, do you wanna go to Ireland?” “Sure, of course, I would love to.” She said, then with a chuckle, “But we have to drive across Oklahoma first.”
Without notice, I pulled off to the charming little town of Shamrock, Texas. Known for its deep Irish heritage and large annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, this small town also has a unique roadside attraction: the Shamrock Blarney Stone.
Shamrock Blarney Stone: A Piece of Ireland in the Texas Panhandle
Located in Blarney Stone Plaza, right off Main Street, this Texas-sized tribute to Irish tradition is said to bring good luck to those who kiss it—just like the original Blarney Stone in Ireland.
While the Shamrock version may not be perched high in a medieval castle, it has its own charm and legend. In the late 1950s, local leaders persuaded Ireland to ship a small piece of the famous stone to their Irish city. Who knows what promises were made? For sure, the town promised that it would promote Ireland and the famous Blarney Stone. When news leaked, many in Ireland were against any part of the stone leaving. However, it eventually made it to Shamrock in 1959, escorted by armed guards and in an armored truck.
The Experience
We pulled into a nearby parking space close to the plaza. Walking over was perfect for stretching our legs on our long road trip across the country. The Shamrock Blarney Stone is pretty darn fun. There’s a small plaque explaining its history.
We both, of course, followed local tradition and gave it a kiss for good luck—no acrobatics are required like the one in Ireland!
Irish legend says kissing the Blaney Stone gives you the gift of gab, which for us remains unclear. However as we walked back to the car, I sure felt lucky to be there and experience such a cool tradition, in the middle of Texas.
