Cliffs of Moher Closing Due to Safety Concerns After Fatalities

The Cliffs of Moher will likely stay mostly shut this year. It’s a very popular place in Ireland, with over a million people visiting each year. Safety issues mean much of it will be closed.

A safety check found problems with a walking path. Sport Ireland did this inspection last year, revealing the route had too many risks to stay open. Sadly, many deaths occurred there.

Sixty-six people died there from 1993 to 2017. A study looked into these sad events, including two young people who died there last July after falling from the trail.

Eoin Hogan, who works for Clare Local Development Company, spoke about the situation, saying they must fix the safety problems. Reopening can’t happen without repairs, as he described the work as serious construction.

The trail is too near the cliff edge and they must move the trail farther back now. Agreements with landowners and planning permissions are also necessary. Clare County Council works on these projects.

Hogan hopes part of the trail might open this year, specifically the north part. You might walk from the visitor center to Doolin, or you could walk from Doolin to the center.

Sport Ireland saw walkers ignore signs and pass warning signs. Many people walked there from the visitor center, while many also came from Hag’s Head trailhead. Parking there increased access to the trail’s south end.

A report mentioned a wedding near the edge, where the couple stood close with their backs to the drop. A landowner organized the humanist ceremony, making it unsafe. Sport Ireland saw unprepared walkers who did not heed warnings.

Unofficial events happened near the cliffs, which is concerning for safety. Events at the edge send the wrong message. People may think it’s safe to stand there. They might go off the official trail, highlighting the importance of proper trails for safety.