Cliffs of Moher... Part I

A MUST day trip from Galway City is to the stunning “Cliffs of Moher.” These sea cliffs, located on the southwest edge of the Buner region in County Clare, are eight miles long and range in height from 390 feet to 720 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The highest point is located mid-way along the cliffs, at O’Brien’s (Watch) Tower (built in 1835).
The cliffs take their name from an old promontory fort called “Moher” (Gaelic meaning “ruined fort”) located on the southern most part of the Cliff’s coastline. The fort was eventually demolished in 1808 to provide material for a lookout/telegraph tower in case of a French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
With over 1.5 million visitors per year, the Cliffs are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland, and they have been designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site. At the base of the Cliffs are a number of underwater caves that have been dated as being 300 million years old and which are connected by a series of river channels.
The Cliffs of Moher have been featured in a number of movies, including “The Princess Bride” as well as “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
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Some of the best views of the Cliffs are right next to the Visitor Center.

Over millenniums, the wave action of the ocean cut caves into the rock face.

For the adventurous (or fool-hearty), there are parts where you can get up close and personal with the Cliffs...

...fortunately, we had an attack of sanity and stayed safely away from the edge.

Along the way, we saw additional sites, such as these “Little Cliffs”...

...(a “miniature” version of what was to be discovered further down the road)...

...unexplained rock wall paintings...

...even a rock formation known as “Larry the Leprechaun” (with its eyes, nose, and mouth) to look after passing tourists.

​KYLEMORE ABBEY - As part of this day long trip, we made a stop at the exquisite Benedictine monastery known as the “Kylemore Abbey.” Originally built as “Kylemore Castle” in 1868 as the private family home of Mitchell Henry (a doctor and politician). The castle contained 70 rooms, of which 33 were bedrooms, 4 were bathrooms, as well as various accessory rooms (e.g. sitting rooms, smoking rooms, Library, etc), including a school room, sundry offices, and staff residences.
The castle was sold to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester in 1903. They lived here until being forced to sell due to gambling debts. In 1920, the Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased the castle after fleeing Belgium during World War I. Even though this former castle has been open for public tours since the 1970’s, the Nuns still reside in a portion of the building.

This 150 year old, 70 room, former castle, is now the home of the Irish Benedictine Nuns. Surrounded by hills and a lake, Kylemore seems like a fairytale location.

Numerous gardeners were working tirelessly to keep the grounds looking pristine.

What a fantastically sculptured fireplace (located in the main foyer of the castle)! One of the most elegant we’ve experienced (the majority having been made of stone).

One of the four sitting rooms in the castle.

Reminiscent of the TV series, “Downton Abby,” dining seems to be a quite formal affair.

In 1874, Mitchell Henry built this Gothic Chapel in memory of his wife, Margaret, who had died suddenly while they were on holiday in Egypt.

What a lovely stop on our day trip...but there is more to come.