Latest news with #CliffsofMoherExperience
Irish Post
06-05-2025
- Irish Post
New bus service linking Irish beauty spots set to boost local economies
A NEW bus service has been launched linking some of Ireland's top tourist attractions. The Burren and Cliffs Explorer shuttle bus will connect towns, villages, and top visitor attractions across North and West Clare and is expected to bring growth to the local economies. Launched this month, the free hop-on, hop-off service is a joint initiative between Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which is being supported by Fáilte Ireland, It will initially run as a pilot project, from May 1 to August 31, with the possibility of an extension into September, it was confirmed this week. One of seven buses in the new Burren and Cliffs Explorer fleet, pictured at the Cliffs of Moher Experience (Pic: Eamon Ward) Currently the service links destinations including Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Carran, Kilfenora, Doolin, Liscannor, and Lahinch. It also stops at key hubs like Lisdoonvarna and Miltown Malbay. The serbvie also gives passengers easy access to some of the region's best-known attractions, as it stops off at the Burren National Park, the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Aillwee Burren Experience, Poulnabrone, the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre, The Burren Visitor Centre, and Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations. 'I am delighted to support this collaboration between the NPWS and Clare County Council, which supports the Department's vision of developing Corofin as a gateway to the Burren National Park,' Ireland's Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, said this week. Pictured at the launch (l-r) Councillor Shane Talty; Malachy Corcoran, NPWS, Siobhan McNulty of Clare County Council, Councillor Rita McInerney, Siobhan King of Fáilte Ireland, Carmel Kirby of Clare County Council, William Cormacan of NPWS and Geraldine O'Rourke, General Manager at Clare Tourism West (Pic: Eamon Ward) "The new shuttle service will assist in providing a more sustainable model for accessing the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, which will have benefits in terms of the environment and biodiversity, and at the same time providing a transport alternative for visitors and local communities," he added. Siobhán McNulty, who is director of Tourism Development at Clare County Council, said the new service will 'support sustainable tourism' in the county. 'The Burren and Cliffs Explorer aims to enrich the visitor experience while supporting sustainable tourism,' she said. 'By strengthening transport links between our communities, we are encouraging visitors to leave their cars behind and fully experience the distinctive charm of our towns and attractions. 'This approach not only benefits the environment but also boosts local economies.' See More: Burren and Cliffs Explorer, Clare, Ireland, Shuttle Bus
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Irish Independent
How a new shuttle bus service launched in Clare will connect towns and tourist attractions
The free Burren and Cliffs Explorer is a joint initiative of Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), supported by Fáilte Ireland, and is available for online bookings. Running as a pilot project from May 1 to August 31 — with the possibility of an extension into September — the service links destinations including Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Carran, Kilfenora, Doolin, Liscannor, and Lahinch. It also stops at key hubs like Lisdoonvarna and Miltown Malbay, where free parking is available. With a fleet of seven buses, the project aims to give passengers easy access to some of the region's best-known attractions with the service stopping off at the Burren National Park, the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Aillwee Burren Experience, Poulnabrone, Michael Cusack Heritage Centre, The Burren Visitor Centre, and Caherconnell Stone Fort and Sheepdog Demonstrations. Siobhán McNulty, Director of Tourism Development, Clare County Council, said, 'The Burren and Cliffs Explorer aims to enrich the visitor experience while supporting sustainable tourism. By strengthening transport links between our communities, we are encouraging visitors to leave their cars behind and fully experience the distinctive charm of our towns and attractions. This approach not only benefits the environment but also boosts local economies.' Ms. McNulty acknowledged the local community for its contribution to the development of the new service. 'To ensure the initiative reflects community priorities, public consultation events were held in early April at Miltown Malbay Community Centre and The Burren Visitor Centre in Kilfenora. These sessions invited input from residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help shape the service in line with local needs and aspirations,' she explained.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- BBC News
Cliffs of Moher to be partially closed for rest of year
A popular Irish tourist attraction, the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, are to be largely closed off to the public for the rest of the year. It comes as the walking trail along the cliffs on the west coast have been deemed unsafe. There have been several deaths on the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail in recent 1.5 million people visited the cliffs every year, bringing a big economic spin-off for nearby rural areas. The County Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) said it did not expect the trail to fully reopen for the 2025 tourist season. The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail is jointly owned by 38 farmers, with the exception of commonage and 800 metres that are owned by the the moment, CLDC manages the trail and both it and Clare County Council are negotiating with landowners to secure agreement for safety improvements on the trail. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, Eoin Hogan from the CLDC said: "Serious construction work has to be done.""The trail is too close to the edge in certain sections, so the trail has to be moved back from the edge."We have to get landowner agreement and we have to get planning in place."He said that the best case scenario is that the north section of the trail from the centre to Doolin will remain the reality is "the southern section will not open this season," he added. Last July, a body was recovered from the sea by search and rescue teams off the coast of Doolin after a 12-year-old boy was separated from his death came less than three months after a 20-year-old visiting student reportedly lost her footing and fell to her death while walking with friends. The walking route was partially closed after a Sport Ireland inspection deemed it unsafe. Safety improvements began in August, with specific concerns raised about a 8.5 mile stretch of cliff edge walking route. According to the draft Cliffs of Moher Draft 2040 Strategy, the "long-term vision for the Cliffs of Moher Experience" is to focus "on the sustainable development of a world-class visitor attraction over the next 20 years"."The strategic aim is to enhance significantly the visitor experience within a restored and re-wilded natural landscape, create sustainable access to and within the enlarged site, and encourage managed dispersal of visitors across the area to deliver widespread economic benefits for local communities."Following an assessment, the key outcome from a survey affecting the strategy is that, "where possible, the public should be prevented from accessing the cliff-edge"."Overarching guidance was given to move the walkway back to create a no-walk zone directly along the cliff-edge."Short term measures recommended include the widening of the walkway to the north and south of the Cliffs of Moher County Council has said it is committed to implementing the objectives of the strategy.
