Location County Clare Map
Phone: (065) 708 1171 (info)
Transport: bus: 337
One of Ireland ’s signature views, the cliffs of Moher rise to a maximum height of 214 meters (702 feet) near O’Brien tower. Cliffs of Moher are located near Doolin in the Clare county. O’Brian round tower was build in 1835 by Cornellius O’Brien, a descendant of Ireland ’s High King Brian Boru. It was intended for hundreds of tourists that visited the site even at those days. On a clear day you can see Aran islands in Galway Bay, the Maum Turk mountains, the Twelfth Pins to the north and Loop Head to the south. The square tower located at Hag’s Head are remains of watchtower build to defend the island from possible invasion by Napoleon from Europe.
Location: village of Doolin
Constructed: 1835 by landlord Sir Cornellius O'Brien
The height of the cliffs is about 120 meters at Hags Head
(English Hag's Head, Irish. Ceann na Cailleach), and 214 meters 8
kilometers north, to the O’Brien’s tower. The view from the cliffs
attracts about a million tourists annually - in 2006, cliffs were
recognized as the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland. In
February 2007, an environmentally friendly (looking like a hill
covered with grass) tourist complex was opened on the cliffs. This
center, The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, received the
Association of Heritage Interpretation 2007 Interpret Britain &
Ireland Awards as "one of the best sites the jury has ever seen."
On clear days from the cliffs, the Aran Islands and the Connemara
valleys are visible.
O’Brien’s Tower is a round stone tower built in 1835 by the
descendant of Brian Boru, Sir Cornelius O’Brien, as an observation
deck for tourists who had already chosen the cliffs of Moher.
The base of the cliffs is Namur shales and sandstones. About 30
thousand birds of 20 species live on the cliffs, including the
largest population of Atlantic puffins in Ireland (1365 adult
birds); in 1989, the cliffs were recognized as a special protective
territory.
In July 2009, the cliffs of Moher were named among 28 candidates for
the Seven New Natural Wonders. They are featured in many movies,
including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Far, Far Away.
The cover of U2's No Line on the Horizon album shows a view of the
Atlantic Ocean from these cliffs.
According to oral legends, south of the Cliffs is the magical
country of Tire on Nog.