The Cliffs of Moher are iconic and wild. They are windswept and amazing with a sense of fear and magnificence that reminds us that Mother Nature if greater than us. Ireland and the sea are deeply connected. Her history with the sea both brings life and so often has taken it away. If you sit quietly, among the crowds here at the Cliffs, you can listen to the ocean tell Ireland’s story. It helps make me understand why the Irish have such a way with words and music. So many places like this serve as artistic inspiration.
My nephew really enjoyed running around up and down the stairs while the rest of us caught our breath. 😉
A view of O’Brien Castle. The first time I was here it was a gift shop. Now they make you pay a small amount to walk to the top for a superb view. I wouldn’t recommend it though because it is hard to see over the large bricks. Also, my brother and I were able to go out on that platform you can see below in this photo and dangle our feet at one time. Now a fence prevents you from doing so probably keeping people far safer than when I first visited.
Puffins roost here but one needs binoculars to see them.
The amazing new visitor’s center beautifully tucked in to the mountain. I was relieved to see that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb and is more like a hobbit visitor’s center.
Has been playing music for visitor’s for some time.
Impressive wood work worthy of a snap.
Bulldog Travels / Photos By Jenny 
Nice memories. To be honest I was disappointed with cliffs of Moher, too busy with bus tours and over commercialised. Too many fences and barriers. I would have liked to have seen it when it was wild and accessible.
Just booked flights to Cork so will do the south coast this year, now I need your recommendations!
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Excellent way to start the new year! I know what you mean about the crowds. It’s probably one of the busiest places in Ireland. This time around we got there very early and it wasn’t too bad. Previously when we went in 2001 there were no barriers that I recall accept maybe a few fences up by OBriens tower because it gets to windy. My brother and I say and dangles our feet over the edge like a couple of dummies.
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As for your trip to the south visit Kinsale and Drombeg circle for sure. Then I would venture both east and west. The roads that skirt the coast going east and west are so beautiful.
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Blarney is down that way which is very busy but everyone has to kiss the stone! And the grounds to the castle are lovely. I’ve heard that going at the end of the day is a way to avoid the crowds.
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Any questions in particular you have?
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We are thinking south and west of Cork. Across to the Beara peninsula and then an idle drive along the south coast, Skibberean, Conakilty and Kinsale. 5 nights, 6 days! Iwant to see the Titanic Experience in Cobh to see how it compares with Belfast.
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Sounds great. Well, I can highly recommend staying in the Kinsale area over Cork. Great food and some fun bars. Charles fort is there and worth a visit. Or a few nights in that area and then others along your route so you don’t have to drive back. I really liked Clonakilty. I don’t know what all is there but I found it to be a charming town. The road from Kinsale to Clonakilty is gorgeous. Drombeg circle is along the way and only requires a very short stop. Although is is on a side road that might divert you from the standard route a little ways. I haven’t been west of Clonakilty other than a bit north west of there. I am excited to see how it turns out for you.
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Thanks for the valuable advice and suggestions!
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As I continue to go through my photos and stuff I will send you anything else I can think of…
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Have you spent much time in Scotland? Just curious since you like Ireland so much.
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A long time ago I did a couple of camper van tours of the far north. I have been to Edinburgh several times and last year I visited the Borders and will be going there again in August.
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Have fun! I enjoyed it there.
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Have you ever been to Saint Kevin’s Monastery in Glendalough?
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Never made it across to the cliffs but intend on visiting the area when / if we return to Ireland. That sculpture was impressive!
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Thanks! I hope you make it some day.
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Stunning photos as usual Jenny! Happy New Year!
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Thanks! Same to you. (It sounds like it will be a big year for you.)
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Very beautiful and so green!
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One constant in Ireland is that she is Green!
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This makes me want to book a trip to Ireland tomorrow. I was reading in Andrew’s comment about the crowds. Good tip to go early. The photos are gorgeous and the the lead photo is stunning!
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Thank you. It’s a pretty place one where it is easy to take a photo. I had lots to choose from at this location. There was a good amount of people there but it was a big place, and since I went in the morning, it was easy for them to spread out. I hope you can go some day. Have you ever been?
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We have been to Scotland and England but no Ireland. Seems like something we will have to remedy!
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What a good problem to have!
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Breathtaking photos! Love the boy’s smile. 🙂
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Thanks. Me too!
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Interesting post about The Cliffs. They are close to my heart as my father was from Co. Clare and we always went to The Cliffs before they got commercialised.
I must say I much prefer the cliffs at Kilkee and out towards Loop Head nowadays. Co. Clare is magical!
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Great tip! Thanks! I liked it better the first time I went too. But I do think they have done a really nice job of it considering how busy it is. Have you been to the new visitors center?
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Yes, I’ve been. They’ve certainly done a good job but I’m just not crowds person.
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Amazing place indeed!
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What wonderful pictures of places that I will not ever see except through photos. Some of the views are breathtaking!
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I am so glad to be able to take you there then! It makes it even better for me to share it with you from your computer. Thanks for the comment.
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The stone pillar emerging form the sea made think of the Island of Sein, off the coast of Brittany. It also is one of those places where land meets sea, meets sky, like the end of the world.
(look it up, Sein is quite extraordinary)
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Looks really pretty. Turns out if you misspell that in google it takes you to Rhode Island. I have a few people I follow on WordPress who have been there recently and it looks so pretty. Interesting mix of Celtic and French…
Hope you are well and recovering.
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Quite a shortcut from the Ile de Sein to Rhode Island. 🙂
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I’ll say.
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What a lovely place. The cliffs and flowers look great. The grass is so green over there it’s lovely to see. Cute nephew too.
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Thank you!
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Pingback: Guest Post: Cliffs of Moher, County Clare « Blog of Hammad Rais
Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
First Scotland and now Ireland! You world bloggers are making me jealous! What great photos! -OM
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THANKS FOR RE-BLOGGING ME! I really appreciate it. I am glad you like to travel along with me. Cheers!
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Just keep taking us with you and your posts will always be shareable. 🙂
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Ha. The more the merrier.
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Thses are beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing them.
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Thank you! And thanks for the comment.
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Love this post and pics! My family and I visited Ireland late September 2015. Our first trip to Ireland, and it was amazing! The Cliffs of Moher was a highlight. It was a beautiful day, not too windy. Gorgeous, breathtaking! Your pic of the visitor center reminded me of going into the meditation room after our long hike along the cliffs. It was so peaceful. Ireland is magical, and oh, so green! Thanks for the wonderful reminder!
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I don’t even recall seeing a meditation room! What a great idea especially on days where the crowds are heavy. What was it like?
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It’s easy to miss. It’s a small, stand alone building, not “in” the mountain, as the visitor center is. We found it on our way back to the parking lot. My husband peeked in and we were all wondering what it was. It’s a small room, can fit maybe six people. There were four of us, no one else was in there. It has a zen feel. The wallpaper looked like wispy plants. There was a single long bench along the wall. At one end there’s a rock fountain. Super peaceful. We closed our eyes, and it felt so good to contemplate the beauty and magnificence of the cliffs. Plus we were tired from hiking in the wind! A nice stop before getting back into our car. We thought it was interesting they had this room. But a great idea!
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It’s is a super great idea! I’m sorry I missed it. Was it before or after the little shops when going back to the parking lot?
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I’m not sure. I thought it was before the shops that are on the left. But I just asked my husband and he thinks it was after the shops. I wish I paid more attention to it!
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Ha. No prob.
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Beautiful nature – and great images! I wish I had visited visited Ireland before moving to the US..
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You will get there some day!
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This is a beautiful place with a character of its own.
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Reblogged this on theivorytide and commented:
Splendid! Thanks for these gorgeous pictures. Someday I’ll go …
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Thanks for the re blog! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! And I do hope you get there one day. 🙂
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Awesome! I really must try and visit Clare this year… The whole of Ireland’s south-west is uncharted territory for me, and your post has reminded me what I’m missing! I would have loved to see it as it was on your first visit… Then again, I reckon it’s still pretty wild and uncrowded at this time of the year 😀
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It’s also pretty windy I imagine!
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I’m sure! But it would certainly add to the feeling of wildness, right? 😀
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For sure.
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I just LOVE the first photo with the clover. Great idea to bring in the colour like that. And I thought instantly of Hobbits, too, when I saw the visitor’s center. That is a thoughtful move: to put it below the hill and not take away from the landscape, which I assume is the reason people come. I am envious of your memories of climbing down the hill onto the ledge, when now people are not allowed. When you are a grandma you can tell the story, “Now, when *I* was young…” ha ha
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Ha ha. Wouldn’t that be great. Imagine how embellished the stories will be by then!
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