Balloons fly off to promote the Cliffs

MORE than 700 orange balloons filled the skies at the Cliffs of Moher yesterday as a campaign with a difference took flight.

A strong westerly wind took the biodegradable balloons out of view within 30 seconds of being released by children from 20 north Clare primary schools at the world renowned attraction.

The event is part of a campaign to have the Cliffs selected as one of the “New7Wonders of Nature” after last year being shortlisted for the final 28.

Each balloon is printed with the Vote for the Cliffs logo and a message to contact the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.

Yesterday, the manager of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Katherine Webster, speculated that the some of the balloons may find their way past the east coast and across the Irish sea to Britain.

Ms Webster said: “Ireland is a small country and we are up against countries such as China and the US in the competition, but there are 60 million people across the world who claim Irish heritage and if we can dip into the Irish diaspora, we have a really good chance of making the final seven.”

Other wonders shortlisted include the Amazon Rainforest (South America), Table Mountain (South Africa), Vesuvius (Italy), and the Grand Canyon in the US.

In excess of 100 million votes were cast in a global poll to determine the shortlisted sites.

* The official New7Wonders of Nature list will be declared on November 11, 2011. Votes can be cast at new7wonders.com.