IRELAND: Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located at the western edge of Ireland. 

They run for about 14 kilometres (9 miles) along the coast. 

At their southern end, they rise 120 metres (390 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean and, 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the north, they reach their maximum height of 214 metres (702 ft). 

On a clear day the Aran islands are visible in Galloway Bay. 

The Cliffs of Moher are a UNESCO Geopark and are a Special Protected Area for Birds and Wildlife. 

Some 35 species of birds live on or near the cliffs, including razorbills, puffins, kittiwakes, and even falcons.

There are also plenty of marine animals living near the cliffs, including seals, whales, dolphins, and basking sharks — which are the second-largest living sharks in the world.

This little tower is built on the highest section of the Cliffs of Moher. 

It looks like it is slightly medieval, or maybe a lighthouse, but it was actually built in the mid 1800's specifically for tourism. 

The cliffs of Moher have appeared in numerous media.

Those of you that remember The Princess Bride (1987) might recognize the scene of the "Cliffs of Insanity", which was filmed at the Cliffs of Moher.

Or, Harry Potter fans might remember Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) and Leap Year (2010) scenes that were filmed here.

The cliffs have also been the setting for music videos, including Maroon 5's "Runaway", Westlife's "My Love" and Richard Mullins "The Color Green".

In 1999, most of singer Dusty Springfield's ashes were scattered at the cliffs by her brother. 

There is also an Irish fiddle tune called The Cliffs of Moher.

Some 1.25 million people visit the Cliffs of Moher a year, making it one of Ireland’s most popular paid tourist attractions.

In 2023 you can add a couple more Canadian tourists to the number of visitors.