The Blarney Stone - famed for passing on the gift of the gab - has found itself at the centre of a war of words in the High Court.
A row over the right to take photographs of people kissing the Blarney Stone - the ritual through which devotees are blessed with its power - has sparked a major legal challenge.
A company, the Quaid Gallery Ltd, has been taking photos of people kissing the stone since 1990 and recorded sales of €250,000 last year, but it is fighting moves to terminate its lease at Blarney Castle in Co Cork.
Judge Mary Laffoy today granted barrister Emma Hanratty, for the company, an adjournment of two weeks for the case to be mentioned before the courts again.
The company has been making its money from taking pictures of tourists kissing the stone.
Earlier this week a lawyer for the company, secured leave to serve notice on Blarney Castle owner, Charles Colthurst, of its intention to look for an injunction to prevent the termination of the licence for the photography service.
The court heard John Quaid, and his daughter Catherine, were operating the service since 1990 through a kiosk in the grounds.
In an affidavit, Catherine Quaid said her father researched the possibility of introducing digital photography in 2004 and Mr Colthurst gave permission to them to seek planning permission for a new kiosk.
The planning application did not go ahead, but a new kiosk was constructed on the site of the previous one to allow for digital photography. The company purchased equipment worth €55,000 to facilitate this.
It was said that the company was surprised upon receiving a letter in February last year stating the Blarney Castle estate would make new arrangements for photography from spring 2007. It stated the Mr Quaid company's facility at the castle would finish then.