Authorities at the Cliffs of Moher along with the company that manages a popular coastal/cliff trail in Clare, have renewed warnings to visitors about the dangers of straying from the official path.
The warning follows several incidents in recent weeks where tourists have sustained injuries after falling. The public is being warned not to stray from the official cliff trail and to ensure they are properly equipped if venturing onto the open trail.
The advice follows warnings issue just last week when a section of the cliff edge was found to be seriously compromised and at risk of collapsing into the sea.
With visitor numbers up 13% so far this year, tourists are being advised that it’s their own responsibility to ensure to heed warning signs and remain on the official cliff trail.
On Thursday, two people were hospitalised following separate accidents at Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction.
The Irish Coast Guard was called out to locate the casualties after they suffered injuries after suffering falls on the cliff trail. An Italian visitor suffered a serious leg injury after falling.
The Doolin unit of the volunteer service, which responds to several such incidents at the cliffs each year, was alerted while a HSE ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit were also sent to the scene.
The injured woman, who is understood to have sustained a compound fracture to one of her legs, was taken to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for treatment.
A short time after Coast Guard volunteers had returned to their base, they were again alerted and mobilised to a similar incident in the same area.
An Australian woman in her 60’s was treated at the scene before being taken by ambulance to UHL for further treatment.
Both incidents occurred on an unprotected section of the trail which is outside the official Cliffs of Moher visitor centre area.
Rural Recreation Officer for County Clare Eoin Hogan said: “It is very important that users of the trail wear appropriate footwear and we highlight this at all the access points to the trail. We can only advise walkers, at the end of the day it is their responsibility to ensure that they have the equipped correctly for the trail and that they have assessed the weather conditions.”
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience director Katherine Webster said: “We would always advise people to stick to the official path and not stray from that. The official path is the inner path. The bare earth track is not a path. This has been created by walkers outside the main path.”
“Visitors need to ensure they are properly equipped when walking the trail. You need proper hiking boots. Casual walking shoes are not good enough. It’s up to every person to ensure they read the warning signs,” Ms Webster added.
The Cliffs of Moher Coast Walk was officially opened in 2013 and has proven to be a massive attraction in Clare.
In 2015, four people were airlifted to hospital after sustaining injuries while walking the trail. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard is called to the area several times a year as the trail is not accessible by other emergency service vehicles.
