Story
The story of Cliffs of Moher
Standing here, you are on top of rocks laid down by an ancient river between 313 and 326 million years ago, when sand, silt and clay poured into a marine basin. The Cliffs of Moher run for about 14 kilometres. At Hag's Head in the south they rise 120 metres above the Atlantic, and they reach their greatest height, 214 metres, just north of O'Brien's Tower, built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien.
The name comes from Mothar, an old promontory fort on Hag's Head, demolished in 1808 to provide material for a lookout tower against a feared French invasion. From the cliffs you can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. At peak season around 30,000 pairs of birds live here, including Atlantic puffins and razorbills.
Below O'Brien's Tower stands Branaunmore, a 67-metre sea stack that was once part of the cliffs. Film fans may know this coast from The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Cliffs of Moher is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
9 more stories from Cliffs of Moher & Burren in the app
More highlights in Cliffs of Moher & Burren
- Poulnabrone dolmenPoulnabrone dolmen is a large dolmen (or cromlech, a type of single-chamber portal tomb) located in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland.
- Pol an IonainDoolin Cave is a limestone cave near Doolin in County Clare, Ireland, on the western edge of The Burren. The name is the anglicised version of the Irish name Poll an Eidhneáin, which is said to translate into "Ivy Cliff Cave".
- Doonagore CastleDoonagore Castle is a round 16th-century tower house with a small walled enclosure located about 1 km south of the coastal village of Doolin in County Clare, Ireland.
- Kilfenora Cathedral and CrossesKilfenora Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Part of the structure is occasionally used as a place of worship by the Church of Ireland and it includes a bishop's throne among its furniture.
- Newtown CastleNewtown Castle is a 16th-century tower house, located close to the village of Ballyvaughan within the Burren area of County Clare, Ireland.
- Leamaneh CastleLeamaneh Castle is a ruined castle located in the townland of Leamaneh North, parish of Kilnaboy, between the villages of Corofin and Kilfenora at the border of the region known as the Burren in County Clare, Ireland.