To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus setting sail for America, a World Fair was held in Chicago.
For 35 cents, one could visit a two-thirds size replica of Blarney Castle and, for what it was worth, kiss a replica Stone. The price was fully 10 cents more than a visit to a replica Eiffel Tower and shows how far the fame of Blarney had spread.
It was claimed that every prominent Irishman in the world visited the attraction. There was controversy, however, as the promoters implied that it was the real Stone and not a replica – ‘Blarney Stone Here’ was the headline in the Chicago Post and the Mayor was duly photographed kissing it after its release from a safe.
Not until the newspapers reported some months later that Sir George Colthurst, the owner, was sailing from Ireland to ‘out’ the fake did the truth begin to emerge.
All of this was major news and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Castle also played a starring role in the St Louis World’s Fair of 1904.