Diomita Maurer’s Blog

Tuesday, July 4th, I went simploring. I looked up the Second Life Destination guide and selected the category Castles & Ruins and there Blarney Castle caught my attention: “Visit this 3D replica of the real Blarney Castle main tower in Ireland. There’s even a Blarney Stone kissing animation. Outside the castle entryway, you can even pick up your certificate indicating that you’ve kissed the Blarney Stone.” What’s that? As it is a replica of the real Blarney Castle main tower .. kissing a stone?
I looked it up on Wikipedia and yes .. “The Blarney Stone is a block of limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the stone and tour the castle and its gardens …..The ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone has been performed by millions of people, the kiss, however, is not casually achieved. To touch the stone with one’s lips, the participant must ascend to the castle’s peak, then lean over backwards on the parapet’s edge. This is traditionally achieved with the help of an assistant. Participants were grasped by the ankles and dangled bodily from the height. Although the parapet is now fitted with wrought-iron guide rails and protective crossbars, the ritual can still trigger attacks of acrophobia, an extreme or irrational fear of heights.”

After collecting this information I visited Blarney Castle in Second Life and I kissed the magic stone – and got the gift of gab. I hope that you’ll notice it!

What next? Is that all I could see here? I looked over the neighbourhood from the top of the Blarney Castle and saw a river and a little Irish town “O’Hare’s Gap” and decided to explore it. Actually I found out that Blarney Castle is a part of O’Hare’s Gap, that is described as a sleepy little Irish village providing a good look at rural Ireland. O’Hare’s Gap consists of four sims of residential and commercial choices, named Velbert, Wilde, Tabary and Toyah. And Blarney Castle is a part of O’Hare’s Gap.

After walking along the riverside with it’s stores I enjoyed the views and the Irish atmosphere of a small Irish town with many pubs and even a tourist info, where you get lots of information about what to see. Along with the points of interest you get not only a landmark but also background information. The other points of interest are:

O’Briens Tower at the Cliffs of Moher
O’Brien’s Tower was built in 1835 by Cornelius O’Brien as an observation point for the hundreds of tourists who even then, visited the Cliffs of Moher. The tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction. They stretch for 8km along the Atlantic coast in the west of Ireland and reach 214m at their highest point just north of O’Brien’s Tower.
The Tower in Second Life is again a quite detailed replica of the original but the Cliffs couldn’t be buildt in Second Life.

St. Columbas Church, Kells
The Abbey of Kells is a former monastery in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, 64 kilometers north of Dublin. It was founded in the early 9th century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the abbey in the 1650s. Much of the Book of Kells may have been created there, but historians cannot be certain of the exact date and circumstances of its creation. The present Church was built in 1778.
In Second Life a vesper service is provided each weekday night at 8:00 PM SL time (PST) by Friar Chim. The service is about 10 minutes long.
The gravesites next to the church are in memory of both SL and RL people who had an impact on our lives at O’Hare’s Gap.

Sarah’s Magic Kingdom (SMK)
SMK is a museum that offers a wonderful look at Walt Disney World along with a dedication to SL’s now closed sim, Mouse World. Enjoy the music and fun along with select attractions.

Other points of interest are:
Hanger 39 is O’Hare’s Gap entertainment venue for DJs, Dancing, and social Events.
O’Hare’s Gap Theater showing public domain movies
Malone’s Pub
O’Hare’s Realty Office provides the available stores and residential houses for rent
Sandalwood Park

After my visit to Blarney Castle and O’Brians Tower at the Cliffs of Moher, I had a look at the monastery just from outside and I visited the old chapel that is located in a skybox. Then I got just some more impressions of Sarah’s Magic Kingdom and of living in O’Hare’s Gap. It truely feels like Ireland (I’ve been there in RL). I also visited a private pub called Hunny’s Pub and I hope that I didn’t intrude someone’s privacy. I just couldn’t resist. Imagine me dressed in leather and latex in a rural Irish Pub – incredible but possible in Second Life!

I walked a bit around, collected more impressions and took an overview picture of the four adjacent sims that make O’Hare’s Gap.
O’Hare’s Gap is owned by Willy Sandalwood, the group has over 700 members and I was not all alone when visiting. There’s for sure a lot more to discover …. Second Life has really a lot to offer. Thank you Willy for this little piece of Ireland!

Landmark to Blarney Castle
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wilde/150/108/33
Landmark to O’Hare’s Gap
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wilde/188/179/26