Cliffs of Moher to be partially closed for rest of year

Clare County Council confirmed that it does not expect the trail to reopen fully this year

A popular Irish tourist attraction, the Cliffs of Moher walking trail in County Clare, is to be largely closed off to the public for the rest of the year.

It comes as a section of the coastal trail along the west coast cliffs has been deemed unsafe.

There have been several deaths on the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail in recent years.

About 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 council.

At 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.

A view of the walking trail on the Cliffs of Moher in the Burren region, County Clare

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 open.

But 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 family.

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.

A strategy for the future development of the Cliffs of Moher Experience has recommended the public should be prevented from accessing the cliff-edge

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 Experience.

Clare County Council has said it is committed to implementing the objectives of the strategy.