The Cliffs of Moher are located near Liscannor Village, County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland.
Famed for the rugged beauty, the Cliffs welcomed 1.6 million visitors in 2019 and are Ireland’s most visited natural tourist attraction.
Nothing represents the wild west better than these gargantuan, Atlantic Ocean battered cliffs.
Where are the Cliffs of Moher?
As we’ve said, the Cliffs of Moher are found in County Clare just a short distance, approximately 6/7km from Liscannor village.
Most tourists, travellers and even locals will be coming from one of the major towns or cities in Ireland, so you’ll find the approximate travel times from each below:
- Derry: 5 hours
- Belfast: 4.5 hours
- Dublin: 4 hours
- Cork: 2.5 hours
- Kilkenny: 2.5 hours
- Galway: 1.5 hours
- Limerick: 1 hour
- Ennis: 40 minutes
Liscannor Village
Although not in the village, the Cliffs of Moher are located very close to Liscannor and it’s considered the nearest settlement. If you visit the Cliffs of Moher, we highly recommend stopping by in the nearby village.
In Liscannor, you will find pubs, shops, and a village hall, same as you’d find in every village in Ireland. As you wander around, you may see Kilmacreehy Church and Graveyard, initially built in the 14th century. If it’s open, you can walk inside and look at the old architecture that has lasted for centuries.
You may also see Liscannor Castle, built in 1712, parts of which still stand today. And St Brigid’s Well, which contains water that can supposedly cure diseases – although we haven’t been able to verify those claims…
And, being a seaside village, Liscannor also has its own harbour.
County Clare
County Clare, in which the Cliffs of Moher sit, is a cultural hotspot within Ireland.
You will almost certainly hear traditional Irish music and maybe participate in Irish dancing. For those who enjoy a nice pint of Guinness, we recommend a visit to Miltown Malbay (a short distance from the Cliffs), where you can find many pubs, many of which play traditional music, which you can listen to while suppin’ a pint.
As well as a rich cultural tradition, County Clare also has some stunning natural beauty. With gorgeous beaches that have become filming locations for Star Wars and a home to Irish surfing culture.
As well as beaches, they also have gorgeous fauna. Many of these end up in perfume made in the factory in Burren. Once a year, locals host the Burren in Bloom Festival, a celebration of the local flowers and fauna.
Why are they called the Cliffs of Moher if they are not in Moher?
Some might say they should be called the Cliffs of Liscannor or the Cliffs of County Clare but Moher isn’t in reference to a place.
Moher comes from an old Celtic word meaning “Ruined Fort.” So, the Cliffs of Moher are technically the Cliffs of the Ruined Fort!
Most historians believe that the Fort was created 2000 years ago, and today, no trace of it remains. The Fort was built on the cliff edge, and thanks to erosion, it fell into the water over time.
Despite not existing for thousands of years, the name ‘ruined fort’ stuck around.
The Cliffs of Moher Fort
The Fort managed to survive a surprisingly long time; in 1780 parts of it remained and were used for in the local area. Similarly in 1808, what remained of the Fort was demolished, and locals used materials from the old Fort to build a lookout/telegraph tower- known as Moher Tower.
The Irish saw what Napoleon was doing in France and decided to take precautions, just in case he decided to turn his attention to Ireland. He never did…
The Fort lasted until Napoleon. But, historians believe it could have been built as early as the 1st century; back then, Ireland had barely come out of the Bronze Age.
How to get to the Cliffs of Moher
Unfortunately, the Cliffs of Moher are challenging to get to via public transport. The nearest train station is found in Ennis, a 45 minute drive away.
Driving to the cliffs is more accessible, as they are located just off the R478 and in most cases tourists and visitors will travel by car or bus.