Cliffs Of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

One of the most impressive sights to see in Ireland are the rustic Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. They are one of the most popular attractions for visitors to see, and almost a million people visit the area each year. When my husband and I were there, a brand new interpretive center called "The Atlantic Edge" was being constructed that would house extensive images, exhibits, displays, and experiences about the magnificent cliffs and the surrounding area.

The cliffs stand approximately 710 feet high at their deepest above the Atlantic Ocean and extend five miles along the coast. On a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, and the valleys and hills of Connemara, as well as the lighthouse on Loop Head and the mountains of Kerry to the south.

The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland -- an estimated 30,000 birds of 29 species. The most interesting is the famous Atlantic Puffins, which live in large colonies at isolated parts of the cliffs and on the small Goat Island. Also present are hawks, gulls, guillemots, shags, ravens, and choughs.

A view looking down from a portion of the cliffs -- many seabirds were flying around this area.
There are few barriers in the area, and it is possible to stand right on the edge and look down, but extreme caution must be practiced as it is quite slippery from all the ocean spray, and there can be strong winds in that area.

O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in 1835, as an observation tower for the hundreds of tourists that frequented the cliffs even at that date.


Pictures can not do justice to the spectacular beauty of these cliffs. To be there to hear the sound of the crashing waves and the birds, to feel the mist, and see the great expanse of the ocean, was just a magnificent experience. I think I'd never tire of visiting this place, and just thinking about it makes me yearn to go back.

Tomorrow I'll show you The Rock of Cashel located in County Tipperary