Ireland has cliffs, famous and not quite as famous. The Cliffs of Moher are well known, and we were duly impressed by their craggy beauty.
The Cliffs of Moher are on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare. They stretch for five miles and rise 702 feet up. It is a busy place with hundreds of people at any one time visiting.
It is an easy, flat walk from the visitors’ center to take photos of the renowned site, and then you can hike up to the left or right if you want photos from different angles. The walkways are wide and paved and have railings to accommodate the many tourists. It was stunning.
A few days before, we had visited the Aran Islands by ferry. We hiked and climbed for about 45 minutes to get to the top of the Dún Aonghasa, The Black Fort, a prehistoric fort in County Galway built in 1100 BC.
Now, that was an effort. There were no paved walkways, no railings, and no defibrillators which I thought I might need before I reached the top. Amazing views of cliffs that rise 328′ up, and you could walk right up to the edge. There were only about 20-30 people at a time at the top. You can’t see this cliff without the hike so there were many in the group who opted to shop. It was worth the effort to make the hike.
New Hampshire has the White Mountains, Vermont is proud of its Green Mountains, and Maine is well known for Acadia National Park. These are all beautiful, but these cliffs are something else entirely. If you visit Ireland, they should definitely be on your to-see-list.
Before we leave the Irish waters, I promised a photo of the oldest lighthouse still working in the world, and that would be the Hook Lighthouse in County Wexford. It is 115′ tall and was opened in 1172.
My photo was taken from the shores of Waterford so it is not a good photo, but I borrowed one from Great Lighthouses of Ireland to see its beauty up close and appreciate its history. You’ve probably heard the old saying “by hook or by crook.” Well, they say it originated here.
New England boasts our share of beautiful lighthouses, but our oldest lighthouse is the Boston Lighthouse in Boston Harbor which dates back to 1716. It’s just a kid. 🙂
I have a few garden photos, some colorful doors, and a couple of amazing murals, but I’ll give you a break from my applause for the beautiful country of Ireland. ☘
What an amazing trip Judy!!
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What a beautiful land. I enjoyed the photograph of the lighthouse also.
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It is hard to fathom something functioning since the 1100’s. There is amazing history along with the beauty there. 🙂
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Stunning! Without railings (or perhaps even with), I don’t think I would be able to get close to the edge–I’m a scary cat. What an adventure! I’m so glad you chose the hike.
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The views were stunning, and the water was so blue in some spots it looked tropical. On the Aran Islands, you could lean right over the edge, lay down over the edge or hold your arm out with your camera. It was kind of funny to then go to the Cliffs of Moher with all the railings. 🙂
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Breath-takingly beautiful.
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i feel like I just traveled back in time a few thousand years looking at those cliff photos…
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Spectacular! Keep these Ireland photos coming!
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Oh, you have fed my wandering soul with these love photos. I love cliffs!
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Just amazing, Judy! Thank you so much for sharing the hauntingly beautiful cliffs of Ireland. Can’t wait to see more! ♡
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Such wonder! That first photo really captures the majesty, I think.
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Spectacular scenery – thanks for sharing these. The next best thing to being there 🙂
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With your eye for photos, skills, and camera equipment, you’d be in photography heaven there, Norm.
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Ireland is full of amazement that stretches from the prehistoric to the bustling busyness of today – and you saw it all! Was that prehistoric gate anywhere near Newgrange? Were you able to see that? Just something from my days of art history that pops into my head as I read this!
Interesting how such a common phrase originated at a lighthouse in Ireland – “by hook” we’ll sail in safely!
I am really enjoying your fantastic pictures and the side stories you’re sharing!
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We did not see Newgrange, Joyce. You would be smiling in any direction you were looking with all the colorful buildings, doors, walled gardens, churches, buildings and forts partially standing, and oh those thatched roofs would draw you in. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we are glad we took it because those memories will stay with us.
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Beautiful!
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Your photos are incredible……but the first one is priceless. You certainly captured the beauty of Ireland. Clearly you had a memory-filled trip. Thanks for taking us along. My armchair is still in good shape after all that traveling!!
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That armchair traveling really has several benefits including not have to stand in line to just take off your shoes, belt, watch, and get all that stuff out of your bag. 🙂 Glad you like the photos. It really was amazing.
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Stunning photos, Judy. When our daughter was in art school, she was applying for a class in which they would travel to Sicily, tour and sketch over spring break, and then return and paint from those sketches. Part of her answer to “why do you want to travel…” was “I’d like to see something older than 400 years.”
Your comment about the lighthouse reminded me of that.
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Thank you, Dan. I was concerned I had too many words and would put people to sleep but the idea of something being that old and still functioning makes you realize we do live in “New” England. Tell, Faith, to definitely put it on her bucket list. She could sketch until the lights go out. 🙂
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Too many words? Pfffft. When the words are good and interesting, you can’t have too many.
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I’m still oooo’ing and ahhhh’ing over the cliffs. That would be awesome hiking!!
Those of us born and raised in the *New* World, have trouble wrapping our heads around stuff that old- at least that’s true for me!
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When I see xxxx BC, my head almost explodes because it is hard to wrap your thoughts around it. 🙂
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Agree!
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When we went to the Cliffs of Moher in 1999 there wasn’t a visitor centre and the railings were very basic. Many people simply ignored them and the warning signs and went right up to the edge. Some even sat on the edge with their legs dangling over. It gave me the creeps to see them but no one fell over that day. Thank goodness! I would love to visit the Aran Islands. Keep the beautiful photos coming Judy. They are all so lovely and really make me want to go to Ireland again.
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The Aran Islands are like a little trip back in time with the thatched roofs, local pub, and carts and horses for transportation. We loved it. 🙂
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Now on my to go to list!
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Lovely to see the Cliffs of Moher…we visited when I was a teenager, not the best time of life to appreciate scenery of any kind!. I’m enjoying your photos and interesting descriptions to go with them..armchair travel at its best!
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I think you have something there because traveling and education seem to be a little more appreciated with a little age tacked on. 🙂
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But I never tire of it! That’s why it’s #1 on the must-see list! When I head up your way, it’s the cliffs I love the most, and thus, I am assured to enjoy the other side 😉
Soooo beautiful!
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Lovely shots, Judy. Sounds like a great trip and thanks for sharing some of your shots.
janet
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Such amazing cliffs. Being scared of heights, I don’t think I could have got these shots – the water is a lovely shade of blue.
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For fun, now, rent the movie “Leap Year”. The story starts and ends on the Aran Islands (although the geography is sketchy at best) and the ending takes place on Dún Aonghasa. They’d just wrapped up shooting when I was there in 2009. It was fun to see places I recognized, and the movie is cute. It’s a pleasant couple of hours with the glorious Irish scenery. You’ll like it. : )
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Thanks, Paige, I will try to find it. 🙂
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Great suggestion! Our library has it. 🙂
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How beautiful, I’m sure I would love this walk.
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I laughed out loud when I got to “defibrillator” — mostly from empathy! I was huffing and puffing just reading about your efforts to get where you wanted to be. But what glory! There is a sense of the unreal in all of this, and, as others here have noted, it puts our present into some perspective. Thank you!
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Two of the eight NH travelers made the climb. I started with a jacket and my big camera and was like an old wagon train that wanted to start shucking stuff about half way up. These type of climbs aren’t on my list of things to do but once we got started it seemed like something to finish and when we got to the top I was so glad. Going back down was much easier. 🙂
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Ok, this is what I’ve been waiting for. How exciting to experience the Cliffs of Moher and the challenging Dún Aonghasa. If there, I would have been right beside you every painful step of the climb! Breathtaking! The historic lighthouse looks in amazing shape for its age. Did they allow tours?
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We were quite a ways away because our stop was actually a pub with a thatched roof that we could really check out and an early evening of Irish music. But, when I went on line to get there closer photo, I believe there were tour times listed. Where we stopped to get the photo, there was also a WWII bunker which was pretty interesting also.
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So many cliffs in the U.S. seem to slide into the ocean at a nice reasonable angle, while those on the other side of the Atlantic drop straight in–no gentle edges, just straight down. Absolutely stunning. The Aran Islands look just as I imagine. What a wonderful trip.
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All of this is such a “treat” and thanks for sharing the scenery, Judy! I especially like lighthouses, everywhere I go, I seek them out! New England (and the Great Lakes) 😉 have great ones, too!
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Looking at those cliffs reminded me of my first trip to the Grand Canyon. It was so overwhelming I couldn’t begin to take it all in. Your pictures have the same impact – amazing and overwhelming. I am so glad you made that hike for all of us! Amazing. More pictures please!
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Wow! Absolutely stunning!
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