My dear travellers and all lovers of unusual trips, welcome to the first travelogue in a series of posts from Ireland on the Mr.M blog. The month of February is dedicated to this unusual country in the heart of Western Europe, a country known for its greenest landscapes, St. Patrick’s Day, music, the famous Irish whiskey, but also for its exceptionally high quality wool. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue about the Cliffs of Moher, the most famous natural Irish beauty that everyone wants to visit when visiting this extraordinary country, I would like to thank the Enterprise Ireland team for the warm invitation to the 50th anniversary of the three-day Irish craft fair and Showcase Ireland and for making it possible to collaborate with Irish fashion brands that you have had the opportunity to see in fashion stories from Ireland.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Black Tie Chauffeur, a Dublin company that provides chauffeured passenger services. This company enabled me to visit the Cliffs of Moher, which are among the most beautiful and impressive natural sights in Ireland. Today I will introduce you in more detail to the service of a private driver with whom you can quickly and with a high level of comfort enjoy the natural sights of Ireland – the Cliffs of Moher.
With the selfless help of all the mentioned partners, the fashion stories and travelogues from Ireland were created, which you had the opportunity to read this January and February, and I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this adventure. Today I will introduce you to the mysterious and magnificent natural beauty of Ireland.
If by some chance you missed reading the previous travelogue post about Showcase Ireland or you want to remind yourself of some interesting facts, take the opportunity to visit the following LINK.
You can also read some of the fashion stories created on the Cliffs of Moher:
- Bonner of Ireland: Immerse yourself in the elegance of Irish tradition…
- Mackintosh Ireland: Francis Campelli, The Artist who improved the Vision of rainwear
- Ériu: An exceptional brand that combines the sustainability, craftsmanship and heritage of Irish wool
Black Tie Chauffeur, one of the leading companies providing luxury transportation services in Dublin. Established in 2017, dedicated to providing unparalleled elegance and professionalism to both business and leisure travelers throughout Ireland. Black Tie Chauffeur offers an exceptional fleet of luxury vehicles to ensure a refined and comfortable travel experience.
The Black Tie Chauffeur fleet includes the Mercedes E-Class, which redefines its category by raising the bar for luxury and distinctiveness. While for those seeking unparalleled luxury, the long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class LWB sets new standards for the ultimate private driver experience. In addition to these vehicles, Black Tie Chauffeur’s fleet also includes the Mercedes V-Class XLWB, which offers generous space and impressive passenger capacity, making it ideal for group travel without compromising on luxury. Whether you are traveling for business or want to complement your leisure time in Ireland, Black Tie Chauffeur’s meticulously maintained vehicles and professional drivers guarantee a journey that will fill your trip with elegance and comfort.
What services does Black Tie Chauffeur provide?
- Airport Transfers: their expert chauffeurs provide modern and reliable transport, with access to all airports for complete comfort. Their team of drivers always understand the importance of luggage, ensuring a smooth journey.
- Corporate Chauffeur Services: When you travel for business, your transportation is crucial. That’s why Black Tie Chauffeur offers chauffeur services throughout Ireland, which can be tailored to suit all needs.
- Private Chauffeur Tours of Ireland: The perfect way to explore the natural beauty of Ireland is by car, as you can enjoy the picturesque scenery that way. You can have your own private tour with Black Tie Chauffeurs, and their drivers are experienced in taking you through every sightseeing spot in Dublin or anywhere else throughout Ireland.
- Golf Tours: Black Tie Chauffeur offers premium chauffeured golf tours throughout Ireland, providing luxury transport to the country’s most famous golf courses. Whether you’re playing at Ballybunion, Royal County Down, Lahinch or Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, their professional drivers ensure a seamless, first-class experience. With spacious, top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz V-Classes with an extra long wheelbase for your comfort, they cater to golfers looking for comfort, reliability and true VIP service.
- Chauffeur services for weddings and other special occasions: Black Tie Chauffeur is here to make your special wedding day perfect and memorable. Their professional drivers are ready to help you with everything from getting you there on time to ensuring a smooth departure for your honeymoon.
Black Tie Chauffeur Company has won many accolades and awards, which is why they are proud to be recognised as one of the best private chauffeur service companies in Dublin. Rest assured that when you choose Black Tie Chauffeur, you are choosing excellence and quality that is second to none. Experience the difference with Black Tie Chauffeur, where your journey is service at the highest level.
If you want to book Black Tie Chauffeur services, you can do so on their official website at Blacktiechauffeur.ie and thus book the best service for your trip.
Their quality of services has been recognized by clients of exclusive profiles such as US Bank, Elavon, Hudson Advisors, Navantia and many others.
My adventure in Ireland was amazing and I can give you a warm and sincere recommendation for the exceptional service I received from Black Tie Chauffeur, so it’s best to keep this post in mind and save it in case you plan to visit Ireland.
The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located on the southwestern edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. They occupy an area of about 14 kilometers. At their southern end, they rise 120 meters above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head, while in the north, they reach their maximum height of 214 meters north of O’Brien’s Tower, a round stone tower built near the midpoint of these cliffs. The nearest settlements in the Cliffs of Moher region are the villages of Liscannor and Doolin.
From the cliffs and from the top of the tower, visitors can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, the Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges to the north in County Galway and Loop Head to the south. The Rocks are among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland, with almost 2 million visitors a year.
You’re probably wondering how these unusual cliffs that have become Ireland’s most famous tourist attraction today got their name? The Cliffs of Moher take their name from an old headland fortress called Motar or Moher, which once stood on Hag’s Head, the southernmost point of the Cliffs of Moher coast, now on the site of the Tower of Moher. Writer Thomas Johnson Westrop named it in 1905 as Moher Ui Ruis or Moher Ui Ruidin. The fort was still standing in 1780 and is mentioned in John Lloyd’s A Short Tour of Clare. It was demolished in 1808 to provide material for a lookout/telegraph tower which was intended to provide warning in the event of a French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations and topped the list of attractions in 2006 when they welcomed almost one million visitors to the official visitor centre. With additional visitors elsewhere, there are about 2 million a year. According to the latest report in 2022, about 1.5 million visited the Cliffs of Moher, with 41% of visitors coming from the US. Since 2011, they have formed part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, one of a family of geotourism destinations across Europe that are members of the European Geoparks Network and also recognized by UNESCO. The rocks are also a “signature point” on the official Wild Atlantic Way tourist trail.
While the cliffs can be accessed from several points, and there are 18 kilometers of trails, most visitors come to the official visitor center.
The official Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path is 18km long, from Hag’s Head to Doolin, passing the Visitor Center and O’Brien’s Tower.
There are two trails near the visitor center, the official trail is set back a bit for safety, while the unofficial trail is located closer to the edge. In July 2016, the so-called footpath, off the official Cliffs of Moher trails, was temporarily closed due to the risk of rockfall. People are warned to stay on the official path away from the cliff edge instead of the unofficial path along the sea. Incidents of injuries and even fatalities from visitors who strayed from the trail continued to be a problem despite signage and other prevention initiatives. In February 2025 the coastal footpath was closed due to these safety concerns.
Special ferry trips also allow tourists to see the cliffs from sea level, and at certain times fixed-wing aircraft from Connemara Airport also provide an opportunity to view the Cliffs of Moher.
The rocks of the Cliffs of Moher mainly consist of deposits of Namur shale and sandstone, and the oldest rocks are at the bottom of the cliffs. At the time of their formation between 313 and 326 million years ago, the river dumped sand, silt and clay into the ancient sea basin. Over millions of years, the sediments that collected at the mouth of this ancient delta were compacted and lithified into sedimentary layers preserved in the now exposed cliffs. The area is considered a geological laboratory that preserves the record of deep-water deltaic deposits. Individual layers vary in thickness from just a few centimeters to several meters, each representing a distinct depositional event in the delta’s history. In total, up to 200 meters of sedimentary rock is exposed in the Cliffs of Moher. Trace fossils are abundant, consisting of two main types: scolicia or worm tracks, which are interpreted as feeding tracks left by as-yet-unidentified invertebrates, and burrow marks, which are circular features preserved as casts of burrows once occupied by yet-to-be-identified marine crenia. Traces of undulations have been preserved on some stones.
Today, the cliffs are subject to erosion due to wave action, which undermines the foundation of the support, causing the cliff to collapse under its own weight. This process creates various coastal landforms characteristic of erosive coasts, such as sea caves, sea deposits and sea stumps. Branaunmore, the 67m high sea cliff at the base of the Cliffs of Moher below O’Brien’s Tower, was once part of the cliffs, but coastal erosion has gradually removed the layers of rock that connected it to the mainland. A large sea arch can also be seen at Hag’s Head below Napoleon’s Signal Tower and many smaller sea arches can be seen from sea level. It is possible to see 300-million-year-old river channels cutting through, creating unconformities at the base of the cliffs.
At the height of the season, it is estimated that around 30,000 pairs of birds, representing more than 20 species, live on the cliffs. These include Atlantic puffins, which live in large colonies on isolated cliffs and on tiny Goat Island, and razorbills. This place is an important area for birds.
A wide range of marine life can also be seen, from gray seals to harbor porpoises, dolphins, minke whales and sharks, as well as, occasionally, sunfish. Wild goats, foxes, badgers and Irish hare are found on land, as well as various breeds of farm cattle.
The Cliffs of Moher have been featured in numerous media. In cinemas, the cliffs have appeared in several films, including The Princess Bride (1987) (as a filming location for “The Cliffs of Insanity”), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) (as a filming location for the scene where Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore search for the Horcrux) (2010) and Irish Wish (2024). The rocks are mentioned in Martin Scorsese’s film Bringing Out the Dead (1999) and featured in the 2008 documentary Waveriders as the location of a large surfing wave known as the “Aileens”.
In music, the cliffs have been the setting for music videos, including Maroon 5’s “Runway,” Westlife’s “My Love,” and Rich Mullins’ “The Color Green.” In 1999, most of the ashes of singer Dusty Springfield were scattered on the cliffs by her brother Tom. There is also an Irish fiddle tune called The Cliffs of Moher.
The new Cliffs of Moher 2040 strategy programme, this strategy is being prepared on behalf of Clare County Council by a multi-disciplinary team of international consultants, with guidance from a Steering Group of representatives from local authorities, the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Fáilte Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, private industry and the wider community. Extensive consultation has also been carried out with elected members, the tourism and hospitality sector and the local community over the past three years.
The Cliffs of Moher 2040 draft strategy provides a long-term vision for the sustainable development of attracting world-class visitors over the next 20 years, while extending economic benefits across the region.
Strategic opportunities for the future development of the Cliffs of Moher
- To position the Cliffs of Moher as a major world-class destination through the development of improved relationships and links with the Burren, the Wild Atlantic Way and the wider hinterland. Use the iconic Cliffs of Moher as a magnet to attract as many visitors as possible across the county.
- Achieve increased economic benefit from all visitors (coach/group visitors and fully independent travelers) and spread these benefits across the county and region.
- Encouraging visitors to stay longer.
- Increase the number of overnight stays, and therefore income and employment in the region
- Greater cross promotion
- Increase opportunities for local businesses
- Develop a sustainable county-wide transportation system to provide sustainable access to the COM site and beyond.
- Provide remote parking hubs and a shuttle system for visitors, a magical journey to the edge and a real sense of arrival.
- Help in improving the quality of life of the local population
The Burren is a karst/glaciokarst landscape centered on County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. It is about 530 square kilometers, within a circle made up of the villages of Lisdoonvarna, Corofin, Gort and Kinvara. The area includes natural features such as Mullamore Hill and the Ayladi Cliffs, as well as historical monuments such as Poulnabrone Dolmen and Caherconnell Stone Fort. The Burren National Park covers a small part of the Burren and is the smallest of Ireland’s eight national parks, while the adjacent territory, including the Cliffs of Moher, is included in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
Although the name is generally applied to the limestone uplands of north-west Clare and the adjacent lowlands, and generally excludes the Clare Shale area in the south-west, the exact extent of the area is not clearly defined, and geologically it extends into County Galway in both the north and north-east. The south east pocket of County Galway around Kinvara is usually included and is the base for many Burren organisations. The Burren is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay, and the Aran Islands are a geological continuation of the limestone hills that make up most of the Burren.
According to one definition, the Burren extends south to a line from the seaside resort of Lahinch to Corofin, and is bounded on the east by a line roughly from Kinvara to the monastery of Kilmacdoo, near Gort. Note that taken literally, this would include places such as the town of Ennistymon and the Cliffs of Moher, which would more often be considered neighbors of the Burren. In another definition, the agriculture-focused “Program Buren” defines a region that extends deep into the Gort Plain, encompassing the South Park, while it would extend to Cooleugh Park, among others, and Turkey. Ruan and Crusheen, and in the south-west to the edge of Doolin, as well as the routines of Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora and Corofin.
The size of the Burren thus stated varies between about 250 square kilometers (basic area of exposed limestone), over 360 square kilometers (taking in all limestone landscapes) and 560 square kilometers, depending on the approach of 7 square kilometers (depending on the land approach). Approximately 60% of the plateau has exposed limestone pavement.
In the next travelogue, I will write about the capital of Ireland, Dublin, which many say is unusual and special. My dear travellers, we have come to the end of this first special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ireland where we had the opportunity to enjoy the Cliffs of Moher, which are the most famous tourist attraction. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of Black Tie Chauffeur in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Irish local culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ireland.
A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.
I am honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with many companies and businesses in the tourism industry and I would like to thank Black Tie Chauffeur once again for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Irish culture and tradition in a completely different way.
How did you like my story about the Cliffs of Moher, a site that adorns this unusual country in the heart of Western Europe? Have you had a chance to visit Ireland yet?
If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!
In the following stories from Ireland, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey takes you to this unusual country!
With Love from Ireland,
Mr.M
This post is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Black Tie Chauffeur and Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence. This post represents my personal and honest review of the impression of the destination and the tourist services provided during my stay in Ireland.