The burren and the cliffs of moher tour of ireland

This day tour takes you on a scenic trip visiting the karst-landscape of The Burren, The Stunning Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle and 19th Century Folk Park.

The tour also includes many destinations in between the 3 main locations. This tour is a day tour which makes it ideal for those who are short on time.

Lemenagh Castle

The first destination on the tour is Lemenagh Castle. The ruins of Leamaneh Castle are located in the stark, magnificent setting of The Burren in County Clare, Ireland.The castle was originally a basic, multi-storied Irish tower house which was built circa 1480, probably by Turlogh Donn, one of the last of the High Kings of Ireland and a direct descendant of Brian Boru. The castle's name "Leamaneh" is believed to be derived from the Irish "léim an éich" which, when translated into English means "the horse's leap".

The Burren Center - Kilfenora

The next destination is the Burren Center in Kilfinora. The Burren, from the Gaelic word Boireann is an area of limestone rock covering imposing majestic mountains, and tranquil valleys with gently meandering streams. With its innate sense of spiritual peace, extraordinary array of flora and wildlife, and megalithic tombs and monuments older than Egypt's pyramids, the Burren creates a tapestry of colour and a seductively magical aura which few people leave without wanting to experience again.

The Burren Centre gives the visitor an introduction to the visual delights and ancient mysteries which await to be discovered in this unspoiled corner of Ireland. This walk through time will take you back through the aeons to a time when this area lay beneath a warm tropical sea. Follow the story of the formation of the Burren's lunar landscape where man hunted bear, and wolves roamed the forests.See how, thousands of years ago, man left his mark on the landscape in the form of Dolmens and burial chambers. They still stand today, stone sentinels at the gates of our civilisation's history. Take the journey with us, watch history unfold in front of your eyes, listen to the sounds and feel the atmosphere of thousands of years ago.

Attycristora

Attycristora is situated high above Lahinch. It looks down on the village with its beach curving towards the old stone bridge, the harbour towards the Cliffs of Moher. It is a fantastic sight to see and no tour of Clare would be complete without it.

Lahinch

Lahinch is a small village and is home to one of Ireland’s greatest Links Golf Courses and has been a major tourist location for many years. It is a seaside resort and has a beautiful sandy beach and it has also become a popular resort for surfing. Sea World is a recent addition to the Centre on The Promenade where fish species from the local waters of The Atlantic can be seen in the various aquaria housed here.The village also has many top class seafood restaurants.

Liscannor

The little fishing village of Liscannor was said not to exist before the year 1775.
It is the village north of Lahinch and south of Doolin. It is very close to the Cliffs of Moher.

One of the finest pub restaurants in Ireland is located here – Vaughan’s and if you have time it is a gourmet’s gymnasium having won many Food Awards.

John Philip Holland, inventor of the modern submarine, was born in Liscannor on February 29, 1840.

A headstone, commemorating his career, presented to the town by the U.S. Navy, can be viewed outside the local community centre.

The Cliffs of Moher 

The Cliffs of Moher rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head to the North and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometres to the south. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the twelve Bens of Connemara. O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower and was built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru in order to impress female visitors. From the of top the tower, visitors can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maam Turk Mountains and the Twelve Bens to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.

The recently created "Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience" is built into a hillside approaching the Cliffs. The centre is also intended to be environmentally sensitive in its use of renewable energy systems including geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, and greywater recycling.The Cliffs of Moher rank as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland and tops the list of attractions in Ireland drawing around one million visitors per year.

As of July 2009, the Cliffs were named one of 28 global finalists in the "New Seven Wonders of Nature". The "New Seven Wonders" winners will be announced on 11th November 2011

Aillenasharragh - Leap of the Foals

Legend has it that when St. Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland there was anger amongst the Tuatha Dé Danann, who were Ireland's ancient tribe of magical rulers.

They magically turned themselves into horses and galloped to Kilcornan in the Burren where they hid out in the Kilcornan Caves (‘the Cavern of the Wild Horses’). One day 7 foals emerged from the caves. They were terrified by the bright light of day and galloped along the edge of the Cliffs of Moher in fear.

Sadly they galloped straight over the cliffs at the point now known asAillenasharragh – ‘the Leap of the Foals’.

Today Aillenasharragh has become legendary once more as a mecca for surfers; only the hardcore surfers can catch the “Aileen”!

The Famine Memorial Ennistymon

It is known over eight million Irish were alive and relatively well prior to 1845 and only four million or so survived into the Twentieth Century.

Most of the relief for those who suffered but lived through this dark period came from America. This was the first memorial in Ireland to honour those who suffered and were lost during the Great Famine. It is erected across the road from Ennistymon Hospital, built on the grounds of the local workhouse where an estimated 20,000 Irish died and a mass graveyard for children who perished and were buried without coffins

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park

The last destination at Bunratty Castle and Folk park which is one of Ireland’s premier visitor attractions.

Here you will explore three wonderful experiences – the acclaimed 15th century Bunratty Castle, the 19th century Bunratty Folk Park and the Village Street.

Bunratty Castle dates back to the 14th Century and once belonged to the O'Brien Clan, who were the High Kings of Munster.

 The castle is sited on an original Viking Trading Camp which dates back to around 970.

In Bunratty Folk Park 19th century life is vividly recreated. Set on 26 acres, the impressive park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting. 

Meet and chat with the Bean an Ti (Woman of the House) and various street characters including the Policeman and Schoolteacher who give the site its sparkle during the summer months.  Enjoy the tastes, scents, sights and sounds of this enchanting place as you stroll from house to house or around the charming village complete with school, post office, doctors house, hardware shop, printers and of course the pub!