Cliffs Of Moher Visiter Center To Open In February 2007

Comprehensive Safety Plans Ready At World-Famous Landmark

Mayor Garvey continued, "The construction phase of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience project has given a very significant boost to the local area and it is good to see long-term permanent employment being provided at the site. The employment opportunities being created at the Cliffs of Moher are similar to the establishing of a major industry in county Clare. I am confident that, once completed, the new Visitor centre building and associated facilities will help establish the Cliffs of Moher as the flagship of Irish tourism."

From the winning design of Cork-based Reddy O'Riordan Staehli Architects, selected from an architectural competition over twelve years ago, the visitor centre has been subsumed into the contours of the local terrain and covered by the grass hills to minimise any visual impact. The building includes a restaurant, café, shop and 'Atlantic Edge' - a state of the art interpretation centre containing exhibits and display on a range of aspects of the Cliffs of Moher.

In April 2006, visitors to the Cliffs of Moher witnessed the first results of the multi-million Euro project by Clare County Council. The South Cliff edge has been complemented by over 250 metres of new pathways providing expanded and improved cliff edge access for visitors. The area around O'Brien's Tower is currently being upgraded and will reopen early in 2007. The project includes a significant upgrading at the site, which will further improve the safety arrangements for the one million visitors who visit the site on an annual basis.

According to Gerard Dollard, Project Leader for 'Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience' team, the issue of visitor safety formed an integral part of Clare County Council's approach to developing the Cliffs of Moher site. "As it was not feasible to patrol the estimated 8 kilometres of cliffs, the Local Authority decided to put in place significant safety management measures along designated official pathways. The enhanced measures include new viewing platforms set back from the cliff edge which give panoramic views out over the Atlantic, reinstatement of banks to provide a low level physical obstruction at the cliff edge, pictorial signage throughout the development to overcome language barriers and the employment of rangers at the site since May 2006 to patrol the cliff edge area", Mr Dollard added.