Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the McCarthy clan and dates from 1446. The noted Blarney Stone is found among the machicolations of the castle. It is claimed that the synonymy of 'Blarney' with 'empty flattery' derives from a circumstance in which Queen Elizabeth I, while requesting an oath of loyalty to retain occupancy of land, received responses from Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, which amounted to subtle diplomacy, and promised loyalty to the Queen without 'giving in'. Elizabeth proclaimed that McCarthy was giving her '(a lot of) Blarney', thus apparently giving rise to the legend.