Cliffs of Moher trail will likely remain partially closed until 2028 due to safety concerns

The popular County Clare trail, which usually has 400k visitors a year, closed in August 2024 over safety concerns.  The Cliffs of Moher may now remain closed until 2028, according to a report to be released next week. 

The attraction was closed following an audit by Sport Ireland, which noted significant safety issues along the 19km (12-mile) walking trail.

Along the southern section of the Cliffs of Moher Trail, 6km from Liscannor, has been "fully closed due to severe safety concerns" since August.

The northern section of the Cliffs of Moher Trail is open from Doolin to Surfers Point only - at this point, walkers are advised to turn back and remain on the walk back to Doolin. There is no access to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre from Doolin.

The popular trail that runs along the cliffs from Liscannor in the south to Doolin in the north, following the stunning Atlantic coastline in County Clare. The route includes O'Brien's Tower, the visitor center and Hags Head.  Some parts of the trail are narrow and exposed, requiring caution, especially in windy or wet conditions. 

Following the 2024 Sport Ireland audit, Tobin Consultants was brought in by Clare County Council to provide a management plan. The Irish Times reports that some of the works will not be completed until the end of 2027.

They also recommend that the County Council buy out the 36 landowners who currently own sections along the trail. 

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The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare.

The report states “Given that the objective is to have full operational control for the entire trail, it is important that a situation doesn’t arise where a small number of landowners do not agree to either a sale or long-term lease of their lands on the trail, thereby preventing Clare County Council, as the trail management organisation, from having full operational control."

The report points out that this may be a difficult deal to make due to "perceived inequity". Along the 19km cliff trail is a 1km plot owned by the Cliffs of Moher Experience, including the visitors' center. Tickets to the Cliffs of Moher Experience cost €8 per adult.

In 2023, the Cliffs of Moher attracted approximately 1.34 million visitors, representing 84% of the 1.6 million visitors recorded in 2019.  This increase in tourism contributed to a 27% rise in revenue, totaling €13.8 million in 2023, up from €10.8 million in 2022.  The majority of this income was generated from entrance fees.

The report states, “Landowners are fully cognisant of the entry fees to the Cliffs of Moher Experience. They see Clare County Council collecting significant fees annually from the Cliffs of Moher Experience and, given that the coastal walk is an important part of the overall Cliffs of Moher, they feel that they are not properly compensated for providing access to their lands for the enjoyment of visitors.”

A small number of fatalities have occurred at the tourist attraction in recent years. 

In May 2024, a Belgian medical student fell from the cliffs when she lost her footing. In January 2019, a 26-year-old Indian man fell to his death while taking photographs at the cliffs, while a Hungarian man in his 20s died in June 2007 after falling while taking photographs.