Ireland's majestic CLIFFS OF MOHER in beautiful County Clare. Stunning to look at, but very busy!!
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- So today we're at the famous Cliffs of Mohar in County Clare, one of Ireland’s most renowned tourist destinations. I always say, you can’t beat a spectacular piece of Irish coastline, so I thought I’d pay it a visit and let you all see this set of cliffs. Given I’m visiting in April, and you can already see two tour busses here and I’ve just come from a pretty packed car park, I don’t think I’m going to be visiting on my own today. And sure enough, there’s quite a few people. But, what I wasn’t expecting was the number of shops that are built into the hillside here. Again, it tells me that this destination hosts a lot of visitors each year. In fact there are 1.5 million people who come to visit these cliffs each year making this one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.
A lot of work goes into these videos. You can now buy me a pint as a means of appreciation for my work on Naked Ireland, no obligation, obviously - only if you can afford it... I appreciate it. Cheers.
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This isn’t the only access point to the cliffs, after all the cliffs stretch for around 14 kilometres, but this is the entrance that has the visitor’s centre and where the majority of visitors come. If you know the cliffs well, or you’re from County Clare, I’d be interested to know about other access points, and I’m sure our viewers would too, after all, it costs €12 per person to enter here. It’s funny in my naivety I thought that since I was going for a walk along a bit of coastline, that it would be free. I made a film a while back about the spectacular Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, which were completely free of charge. Having said that, at Slieve League there’s no underground visitor’s attraction as there is here. I was really quite surprised to see the network that exists beneath these hills.
OK so to prepare myself for the real cliffs, I’m going to the exhibition here which will not only tell me everything I want to know about the cliffs, but also allows me to visit the cliffs virtually. Architecturally I guess it’s pretty impressive, and there’s every kind of multi-media learning facility you could ask for, but none of this is what I’ve really come for - though I can imagine that this might be something children would enjoy.
I visited the 4D experience, the 4th dimension being the wind machine and some spray that comes down from the roof of the theatre. As far as drone films go, this was fine, but as you can imagine I was still eager to see the real thing.
So primed for action, out I went to embrace the real experience. Now, as I’ve already said, if you feel a trip to the cliffs of Moher is going to be a solitary experience where you can commune in peace and tranquility with nature, with the wind in your hair and spray on your face - think again. You will share this experience with a lot of other people - people from all over the world. For some people that might be a positive thing of course. But one thing is sure, these cliffs are certainly breathtaking, and not something any multimedia experience can properly represent.
These majestic cliffs rise to a height of 214 meters at their highest point, and it’s this northern part of the cliff face that we see here, and the section that’s just behind me now that are the tallest in the 14 killometre stretch. This is an obvious point therefore, for the visitor centre. There is a cliff walk that vistors can do either partially or in its entirety if you’re fit enough, bear in mind that the full walk is 18 kilometres.
Now it’s probably not surprising that people have lost their lives at these cliffs. This monument on the cliff edge remembers these people. I’m sure there have been accidents, but I’m guessing the cliffs have been a last stop for people ending their own lives too. Indeed, despite the signs not to cross the safety fence, while I was here, I saw quite a few young people nonchalantly strolling along the wrong side of the barrier. I don’t know why they would do that, but I do know If you slip it’s a long way down. It’d be a good idea not to have a few pints before you come up here! That’s what was missing from the visitor centre now that I think of it - a pub.
Along this cliff path there are a number of signs advertising the Samaritans, I hope this is a message that hits home.
So the Cliffs of Moher is a wonderful national natural treasure. It’s a shame it’s become such a commercial machine, and judging by the crowds here in April, I think I’d avoid visiting in July and August unless you’re a real people lover.
I have visited the Cliffs from the land and from the sea, the Cliffs are stunnig from the both areas!! Thanks a million for sharing your videos. I visit Ireland everytime I can and every time I love more the country and the Irish people.
Yes, I saw a boat under the cliffs when I filmed, I think you can just see it in one of the shots, and I wondered what it’d be like to see the cliffs from down there. I bet it’s great? That could be a future film.
I visited the cliffs with my father and uncle around 1962 when I was about 8 years old. I recall how empty and desolate it was. The wind took my breath away as I neared the edge. We sheltered in O' Briens tower for the men to have a smoke. The tower was just an empty roofless ruin back then with animal droppings on the floor. I drove by a few times in the intervening sixty years or so, but never stopped to re-visit due to the busloads of tourists. I guess my memory of that day, me in short trousers and the company of my two big heroes was more personal than I thought and didn't want to spoil that memory with herds of tourists milling around. Great video, even greater memories.
FANTASTIC!! Billy, these are just the kinds of reminiscences that warm my soul. Perhaps this is why I make these film. Thank you so much for that contribution.
Sorry it’s William not Billy.
@@nakedireland Billy will do fine. It doesn't carry the same connotations here in the Republic as elsewhere 🙃
Ha ha, you detected my northern paranoia!!
I’m visiting Moher today!
Ah brilliant, have a great time.
Great video Greg! Once more you have shown us another Ireland, "no shenanigans!", and not a Leprechaun busking by a Holy Well insight. I suppose having the shops hidden into the land scape was the one redeeming of the Cliffs of Mor experience. So different to my walk along the Cliffs in 1980-83. My Dad was stationed out on the Cliffs during "The Emergency", as what WW2 is called in the South. He loved the experience. But still, they look dramatic and wild and beautiful. I can imagine the Wild Atlantic crashing against them on a storm lashed night. Or the wee puffins huddled on the grassy out crops.
I think your more likely to see wee huddled tourists on the grassy crops these days!
Out of condition ones !!
Those are the "Puffins", I'm referring to🤪
😂
Beautiful area of the country, my parents have a holiday home in West Clare. Lahinch, Ennistymon, Milltown Malbay, Lisdoonvarna, all lovely. Ennis is also a bit inland but is also very nice. And of course, the Burren is also beautiful in a rugged way, “Not a tree to hang a man, water to drown a man nor soil to bury a man”, as one former British squaddie once described it.
Mind you, you could lamp a size five O’Neills off the Cliffs and it would come back to you! Serious winds.
It’s a stunning county. Gonna do a wee film on Ennis soon.
I was just there a week ago! The cliff walk is definitely worth it, even if people block the path a lot.
Yes I agree Christine, it’s still worth a visit, but perhaps not in July/Aug?
Niccceeeeeeee ☘
Thanks a lot!
Been to the cliffs a couple years ago on a bus trip. We felt a bit rushed so we’re going back in September. I want to go up to Hag’s Head this time.
Yes Craig, it takes a bit of time to explore the cliffs properly. A second trip there is a good idea. I'll go back myself at some point. Many thanks for the pint by the way - so generous!
We went to the Cliffs of Moher back in 2003. My wife wanted to go; I wasn’t fused but glad I have seen them. I have never seen her so scared when we got up the top, I had to hang onto her as it was so windy 😆 Made me laugh, which went down well naturally 😝 I don’t recall the underground shops, perhaps it wasn’t built back then. I still have the coasters we bought that day at a gift shop that was there though and on my desk right now is the one for the Cliffs of Moher 😁
We went out of season and even then, it was busy. I remember that path you were on and the steps. I am glad I saw them and would again, maybe I will one day. Alas my digital camera was not that good back then so I didn’t get any great photos, and it was quite an overcast day.
So where are you going next for me Greg? 😋
Ah good question, I think it might be the Rock of Cashel. I’m a bit discombobulated as todays video wasn’t supposed to go out until Thurs - I must have programmed it wrong! So, I’m prob the wrong person to ask, but I think I’ve thé Rock of Cashel for either next week or week after. Amazing place.
@@nakedireland Not enough Guinness old son 😝 I have been to the Rock of Cashel too, I look forward to seeing it again. Next time your down Wexford way (and the video I found you by btw) drop in on Johnstown Castle, cracking place.
Johnstown castle - good tip!
I told you I was heading to Cashel this week, in fact I got that wrong, Rock of Cashel is next week. This week it’s Best Breakfast in Cork!
@@nakedireland I'll forgive you, just this once mind 😆. I could just eat a full Irish breakfast, I had some cracking ones there, the Irish know how to eat! 🤣 Something to look forward to next week the rock of Cashel 😁
Great video again and fair comment re commercialisation but it generates £ for the west/local economy and is spectacular! I hope you plan to pull in a few more of the glorious Clare sights??
Yeah, it's a real trade off isn't it - safeguarding the environment on the one hand and economic factors on the other. I'll do my best Paul re: Clare sites. Thanks again for watching.
In went in the early 1990s with my parents (great memories) and in 2022 with my husband. We were lucky with the weather both times. We skipped the shops and centre (except for using the very clean washrooms on our way out) and just went outside to walk and enjoy the views. Like you we saw lots of younger people and “influencers” taking selfies and videos on the wrong side of the wall. Unbelievable.
Sadly a young student lost her life this very week after falling from the cliffs. In recent years there have been a number of fatalities of people taking selfies. It’s a beautiful place, but dangerous and maybe there’s just to many people nowadays?
It is sad. I went to the Aran Islands in the 90s (pre selfies and “influencers”) and the ridiculous and dangerous things people did by the cliffs there too was insane.
Yeah, I guess people will be people.
“Hear my song” and a Harry Potter was filmed here…
I had no idea Paul. I should have mentioned that in the video.
@@nakedirelandMate,Ned Beatty threatened to chuck Aidan Dunbar into the Atlantic from the tower…
Sounds a bit extreme Paul!
Yet another tacky tourist trap. Looks even worse than the hideous monstrosity with which they marred the Giant's Causeway. Great 👍 videos though. Love the music too. Keep up the good work...and start that pub construction petition immediately 🍺. Cheers. Slán go fóill.