COUNTY CLARE - CLIFFS OF MOHER
O`Briens Tower
The three storey castellated observation tower is built of grey stone and is situated in open surroundings. Visitors can use the tower`s top floor viewing platform for long reaching views over the bay and out towards the Twelve Bens mountain range; also known as the Twelve Pins, in Connemara, Loop Head at the southern tip of County Clare and the Aran Islands to the west. The castle also has a gift shop and a gallery for local artists on the first floor. The tower is open daily and access to the viewing platform is via a spiral staircase.
The tower was built as an observation tower for the hundreds of Victorian tourists visiting the area by a local man Sir Cornelius O`Brien; a descendent of the Kings of Thomond from Bunratty Castle and The High King of Ireland Brian Borou, in 1835. He was famous for being one of the first people in the area to exploit tourism hoping to bring much needed revenue to the local economy. He was also responsible for building a wall along the cliffs using Moher flagstones which bear the remarkable feature of the imprint of fossilized eels compacted over thousands of years and got a reputation of being `the person who built everything apart from the cliffs`. On his death in 1857 he was buried in the O`Brien vault which adjoins St Brigid`s Well at Liscannor.
Moher Tower - Hag`s Head
Hag`s Head is a large rock formation above a sea arch which resembles a seated woman looking out to sea. The point affords spectacular panoramic views of cliffs, sea caves and the ocean. This point stands Moher Tower, a Napoleonic signal tower built around 1806. Signal towers were built to keep watch on the coast for any sign of the French during the Napoleonic Wars. At any sign of an invading ship, signals would be passed to the next tower and so on back to the commanding station. The next tower on the coast should be visible in each direction.
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
The site has been developed by Clare County Council and Shannon Heritage to allow visitors experience the spectacular natural impression of the Cliffs, without the distraction of imposing man-made amenities or features. In keeping with this carefully-balanced approach, the `Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience` is built into a hillside approaching the Cliffs, blending naturally with the surrounding countryside.
Officially opened in February 2007 having been meticulously planned and built over a 17 year period, the €32M facility features an informative array of interactive media, exploring topics such as the origin of the Cliffs in local and global geological contexts, the bird and fish life in the area, and many more. An IMAX-type multimedia show allows visitors to experience a bird`s eye view from the cliffs, as well as seeing the inside of underwater caves at the foot of the cliffs.