What a majestic sight!  Rising 702 feet at their highest point from the Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes and tourist destinations.  These nine-mile-long cliffs, estimated to be 300 million years old, are listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark and are visited by 1.5 million people a year.

The key to avoiding the crowds is to get to the cliffs early, so that we did.  Our bus was the second to arrive, so it was a pleasure to have wide open vista points, especially for photography. 

The weather at the cliffs can be quite fickle and rainy, so we felt fortunate to have just one short period of sprinkles.  Off in the distance, it was raining over Galway Bay and Aran Islands.  We felt fortunate those clouds never made it our way!

I was mesmerized by the shapes of the cliffs and rock formations carved by the wave action over the years.  Erosion has formed caves, sea stacks, sea stumps, and arches—the reason the cliffs have become not only a draw for tourists, but also for film crews for movies, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

We also visited Caherconnell Fort, a well-preserved stone fort that was inhabited up to the 16^th century.

This was the last day of the main tour, so our group met for a farewell dinner and drinks, which in my case was a local cider.

Next up:  IRISH ADVENTURE #18: ALONG THE RIVER SHANNON: ADARE & LISTOWEL