Inspection warns Cliffs of Moher trail ill-equipped for number of visitors, should be 'closed immediately'

People ignore warning signs, climb over barriers, and stand near the cliff edge, inspectors found

The inspection highlighted several areas where the trail was too narrow to cater for the volume of walkers, and locations where people were most likely to stray off course, sometimes deliberately and while 'engaging in risky behaviour'. Picture: Press 22

An inspection of the Cliffs of Moher walking trail found visitors ill-equipped for conditions, people ignoring warning signs, and a humanist wedding where participants were standing close to the cliff edge.

The review was undertaken by Sport Ireland in mid-August after two youngsters tragically fell to their deaths in July.

It said many walkers were ignoring warning signs, climbing over flagstone barriers, and going straight towards the cliff edge.

The report said: “In summary, it was observed that walkers were unprepared for this grade of walk [and] warning signs were unheeded.

“The volume of walkers was too high for some sections of the trail, and unofficial events were being held close to the cliff edge," it added. 

It said the facilitation of events like wedding ceremonies gave “the impression that these are officially sanctioned events.” 

This leads people to believe it was “safe and acceptable” to go off the trail and towards the edge.

The review found parts of the trail where it was not obvious which was the “official” or “unofficial” route, and people could easily stray onto the wrong one.

It added: “In some locations, the official trail was too narrow to cater for the volume of walkers travelling in both directions, making the unofficial path, which is often wider, more attractive.” 

'Risky behaviour'

The inspection highlighted several areas where the trail was too narrow to cater for the volume of walkers, and locations where people were most likely to stray off course, sometimes deliberately and while “engaging in risky behaviour”. 

It said the trail was unsuitable for the type of people it was attracting and the inspector saw multiple examples of “dangerous [or] risky behaviour”. 

The inspector’s view was that the trail “be closed immediately” to make it safe, according to a copy of the report that was released under freedom of information laws.

The report added: “Sport Ireland Outdoors acknowledge the severity of the safety issues identified and note the comment of the inspector above.” 

The report said the trail was unsuitable for the type of people it was attracting and the inspector saw multiple examples of 'dangerous [or] risky behaviour'. Picture: Press 22

However, it said the large volume of visitors and the high quality of some sections made it possible for operators to keep some of the trail open.

A detailed analysis also highlighted safety signs that were easy to walk past without noticing and specific areas where people were most likely to go towards the edge.

It said: “[One] sign requests that walkers stay on the official path, but it does not contain a warning about the danger and cliff edge straight ahead.” 

In another area, the trail was waterlogged just beyond a “pinch point” where visitors found it hard to get past each other.

“[This is] resulting in walkers skirting around the puddle, bringing them dangerously close to the cliff edge,” the report said.

'No warning signs'

Another section highlighted a narrow section unsuitable for high numbers of visitors bringing them close to “exposed barbed wire fencing”. The inspector also noted one point where “a well-used unofficial path [is] leading to a cliff edge with no warning signs present.” 

Notes on another location near Nag’s Head said: “This is an extremely dangerous point on the trail where an unofficial path leads to a point right on the cliff edge not visible to walkers approaching from the south.” 

Asked about the report, Sport Ireland said “several safety issues” had been identified, with some sections of the trail kept open while others were closed for renovations.

It said all issues on the trail that remained open had been successfully addressed and that other sections would remain closed until any unresolved safety issues were dealt with.